Special Projects

For technological development of a safe, reliable, economic and non-proliferating nuclear cycle, both for fusion and fission, ENEA fosters, develops and experimentally validates new technologies, systems and innovative solutions. The Innovative Projects Section has the task of supporting such development by operating in the conceptualization, design and construction of new experimental infrastructures, and modernizing existing ones, while supporting and collaborating with the Italian industrial advanced technology players. To this end, it participates in projects, consortia and research teamwork, both national and international, for technological development of innovative nuclear systems, providing technology transfer services to the nuclear and energy industry, and generally supporting Italian industry in the development and certification of advanced energy technologies.

In this context, this section oversees design and technological development of generation IV lead-cooled fast nuclear reactors, and subcritical systems coupled to accelerators (ADS). It ensures ENEA’s contribution to the work of the FALCON Consortium (Fostering Alfred Construction).

This Section deals with the design, engineering development and construction of prototypes, as well as complex technological systems for nuclear applications, both for thermonuclear fusion (DTT, DEMO, IFMIF-DONES, ITER) and for generation IV fission. In this context, it develops experimental procedures, plants, prototypes and demonstration models, as well as numerical simulations to support design work and interpretation of experimental results.

The Section, in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), develop compact nuclear reactor for space applications.

Lastly, it oversees collaboration between ENEA and international research institutions, providing for supply of experimental infrastructures to support lead-bismuth cooled generation IV systems and consequent experimentation through partnership agreements. It provides services to industry for the thermofluidodynamic, thermo-mechanical and neutronic design work for innovative nuclear systems.