EHRO-N - a Tool Complementing Instruments and Initiatives for Improved Management of Nuclear Human Resources in the European Union

Advances in science and technology require higher quantity and better quality of human resources than are available today in the European Union (EU) in all three spheres covered by the knowledge triangle: education, innovation, and Research and Development. The situation concerning nuclear human resources has deteriorated even further in the EU in the past decades and there is a risk of the loss of important nuclear knowledge if no actions are taken. This prompted the Council of the EU to conclude in December 1st, 2008, that it is "essential to maintain in the European Union a high level of training in the nuclear field" and, at the same time, preserve the skills in the nuclear field that we already have. The latter is especially true if we are to guarantee the highest level of nuclear safety (subject of the Council Nuclear Safety Directive adopted in June 25th 2009). The nuclear knowledge management landscape in the EU includes numerous instruments and initiatives tackling the nuclear human resources challenge. The European Commission (EC), more precisely the Directorate-General (DG) for Research with its initiatives Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNE-TP) and the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN) and DG Energy with its initiative the European Nuclear Energy Forum (ENEF) are at the forefront of these efforts. In ENEF was born the idea of European Human Resources Observatory for the Nuclear Energy Sector (EHRO-N). By creating a database of nuclear skills needed in the short-, medium-, and long-term perspective and by identifying gaps and deficiencies in the educational and training infrastructure in the EU, EHRO-N should link supply and demand for nuclear human resources in the EU. In cooperation with EC, ENEN, ENEF, SNE-TP, EHRO-N will work in favour of the development of a European scheme of nuclear qualifications and mutual recognition. Cooperation and coordination with international actors such as IAEA is envisaged since the situation regarding nuclear human resources is similar throughout the world.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

An overview of hydraulic fracturing and other formation stimulation technologies for shale gas production - Update 2015

The technology of hydraulic fracturing for hydrocarbon well stimulation is not new, but only fairly recently has become a very common and widespread technique, especially in North America, due to technological advances that have allowed extracting natural gas from so-called unconventional reservoirs (tight sands, coal beds and shale formations). The conjunction of techniques such as directional drilling, high volume fracturing, micro-seismic monitoring, etc. with the development of multi-well pads has been especially successful in the last years in their application to shales, making gas production from shales technically and economically feasible. In Europe, the potential application of this technology has led to both great worries and high expectations: worries regarding the alleged magnitude of the environmental impact, and expectations about production of indigenous hydrocarbons. Other types of formation stimulation exist that do not make use of water-based fluids (for instance, explosive fracturing, dynamic loading, etc.), or that make use of fluids other than water. These are currently not extensively applied due to performance considerations. As for any other industrial activity, the deployment of high-volume hydraulic fracturing could potentially entail some risks to the environment. Among the concerns raised are high usage of water, methane infiltration in aquifers, aquifer contamination, extended surface footprint, induced local seismicity, etc. New technologies could help addressing these concerns (for instance by using non-toxic chemicals, by reducing or eliminating altogether the usage of water, by considerably reducing the surface footprint of a well, etc.). This report is an update of the original study carried out in 2013 (2013). It reviews the latest trends in hydraulic fracturing and alternative fracturing technologies, by searching the open literature, patent databases and commercial websites (mainly in the English language). For each identified technique, an overview is given. The technique is then briefly explained, and its rationale (reasons for use) is identified. Potential advantages and disadvantages are identified, and some considerations on costs are given. Finally, the status of the technique (for instance, commercially applied, being developed, concept, etc.) is given for its application to shale gas production.JRC.F.3-Energy Security, Systems and Marke

EHRO-N 2014 Annual Activity Report

The report summarises the activities that were conducted in 2014 by the European Human Resource Observatory for the Nuclear Energy Sector (EHRO-N). After a short introduction on the mission and structure of EHRO-N, the report presents the main activities done during the year. The most important decisions and conclusions delivered by the SAG meetings are reported, as well as the participation to major events in the nuclear sector to promote EHRO-N among interested stakeholders. The report explains also the studies and reports carried on during the year and EHRO-N contribution to the Second Situation Report on Education and Training in the Nuclear Energy Field in the European Union.JRC.F.4-Innovative Technologies for Nuclear Reactor Safet

EHRO-N 2012 Annual Activity Report

This report contains information on the activities performed under the framework of EHRO-N or the European Human Resource Observatory for the Nuclear Energy Sector in the year 2012. The mission of EHRO-N is to provide 1) qualified data on the needs regarding human resources in the nuclear field within the European Union, and 2) high-level expert recommendations on EU-wide nuclear E&T actions, promoting lifelong learning and cross border mobility. Following the EHRO-N objectives numerous activities were performed in 2012. These fall under the following headings in the present report: • Two Senior Advisory Group (SAG) meetings • E&I workshop and a visit to the Energy Institute of the Istanbul Technical University • EHRO-N “Putting into Perspective” Report 2012 • EHRO-N presence and presentation of its activities at the VGB training and career event (in original: VGB Studentenkurs „Kerntechnik“) • EHRO-N Contribution to the SET-Plan • Preparation of the EHRO-N Roadmap 2020 preparation • Launch of the survey on the Mobility of Nuclear Professionals • Attendance at conferences (ENC 2012) • Studies by EHRO-N • Guidelines on the way to produce a capacity building exercise nationally • Contributions to other DGs of the EC • Networking and EHRO-N relations with other organisations • EHRO-N website • ECVET ActivitiesJRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

Putting into Perspective the Supply of and Demand for Nuclear Experts by 2020 within the EU-27 Nuclear Energy Sector

This report is the first EHRO-N report on the supply and demand for nuclear experts in the EU-27. Its concrete purpose is to present, in global terms, how the supply of experts for the nuclear industry in the EU-27 responds to the needs for the same experts for the present and future nuclear projects in the region. Because the analysis was done on data received from spring 2010 to spring 2011, the effects of the Fukushima Daiichi accident on the workforce situation were not taken into account in the results. The main changes that could potentially affect the supply of/demand for nuclear experts occurred in Germany, where 8 nuclear power reactors were taken off the grid and the rest will be closed by 2022, and in Italy, where in June 2011 a referendum imposed a permanent ban on the reintroduction of a nuclear power programme. After this first report, it is our hope that the messages of the “First situation report on education and training in the nuclear energy in the European Union” of the European Commission will be heard - namely, that: 1) EHRO-N shall be endorsed as the central information source for all stakeholders in the EU-27 interested in the optimisation and rounding up of their initiatives relating to the nuclear human resources monitoring, planning, education and training taken, and that 2) the member states of the EU-27 are going to fully support the European Commission in developing EHRO-N.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

Report on the nuclear human resources and education and training situation in the European enlargement and integration countries

The Fukushima Daiichi accident in March 2011 has definitely slowed down the expansion or development of nuclear power programs. However, a number of countries are still decided to embark on nuclear power or to expand their existing programmes in the coming years. This development will be characterized by the continuous need for a skilled and knowledgeable workforce able to meet the international requirements for handling nuclear energy. The Council of the EU recognized on several occasions that training and education are the back-bone of a sustainable development of highly qualified experts in the nuclear field. The European Human Resource Observatory for the Nuclear Energy Sector (EHRO-N) is at the forefront of European efforts to monitor and analyze short- and long-term trends in supply of and demands for personnel in the nuclear field to support the systematic and continuous capacity building in this area in the EU-27 and beyond its borders. This EHRO-N report examines the current situation of the nuclear human resource SUPPLY – the availability of nuclear education and training programmes, including research opportunities – as well as the DEMAND situation for such experts – companies involved e.g. in consultancy, manufacturing, engineering, provision of technical services, mining, decommissioning and waste management representing direct employment opportunities – in the Enlargement and Integration Countries. In addition, the report provides a brief overview of the nuclear infrastructure of each of the E&I Countries, if applicable.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

The concept of internationalisation and the inevitability of mobility of highly skilled employees: What can the nuclear energy sector in Europe learn from it?

The international mobility of highly skilled professionals is not a new phenomenon - cosmopolitan values have always been part of various institutional operations. Nevertheless the concept of internationalization, as we know it today, developed primarily in the last thirty years on the basis of globalization. Internationalization became increasingly important, if not a core component of the various institutions throughout the world. In Europe, countries have been faced with profound social, political, economic and technological change especially since the beginning of the nineties. These changes were due to globalization of capital, production, trade and services, and Europeanization. It is recognized that only social cohesion, intercultural dialogue and international cooperation can enable organizations to successfully face the challenges and risks brought by technological development, globalization and European integration processes. The internationalisation of research and development (R&D) and mobility of human resources in science and technology has therefore become a central aspect of globalisation. As the mobility increases, so do challenges with it, one of which is the recognition of education and qualifications acquired. Mutual recognition concentrates, not on the process of qualification, but on the outcome of that process. In other words, it does not matter how individuals become qualified in their own country, the important fact is that they are qualified. What about mobility in the nuclear energy sector? The nuclear energy sector in Europe can also profit from the increased mobility of its employees where this mobility is necessary for: 1. human resources development (through the exchange of tacit knowledge, transfer of knowledge from retiring experts to newly employed experts, etc.), and for 2. creating of strategic alliances. There are nevertheless still some questions to be addressed on the European level which could facilitate this mobility: • the harmonisation of job profiles’ denominations or the existence of a common job taxonomy for the nuclear energy sector within the EU; • a network of education and training (E&T) and other institutions on national level that recognise the above taxonomy; • familiarity with and use of the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) principles within the nuclear energy sector in the EU for a set of jobs from the above taxonomy which are, for example, defined as “more mobile”.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

First Experience with the Consolidation of WWER Reactor Pressure Vessel Knowledge through a New Method

One of today¿s activities of the Joint Research Centre¿s (JRC) Institute for Energy (IE) concerns data management and dissemination in nuclear safety. An ¿Online Data & Information Network¿ (ODIN) is set-up, which maintains one document database and four engineering databases. These databases aim to deploy networks for energy related research & development, specifically for nuclear energy and to provide the public experimental data of European projects on mechanical and thermo-physical material properties in comparison with international standards and recommendations. Due to its long lasting experience and being in a key position as regards web based d-base (e.g. ODIN), the IAEA for example has recently transferred the reactor surveillance data-base to the IE. Lately, many stakeholders, such as Institutes, R&D Organisations, Regulators, Utilities, Governmental Organisations, have recognised the need for collecting, preserving, consolidating (validating), and disseminating nuclear knowledge (documents, competences and data), in order to make it easily accessible to future generations through modern informatics tools and training and education measures. A broad spectrum of components and technologies should be considered, i.e. reactor pressure vessel (RPV), piping, internals, steam generator, etc. regarding knowledge, material data and practices. In the long run, it will also support future decommissioning exercises of nuclear installations as a valuable knowledge source. In addition to the knowledge in each Member State, the IE produced a long standing record of results from its own institutional activities and even more through the participation to a large number of European Network partnership projects. It is important, besides preservation, to consolidate the enormous amount of scientific results produced since. Therefore, the IE has developed a method for consolidation of nuclear knowledge. The method relays on the mobilisation of all identified leading experts in the EU in re-evaluating old knowledge and consolidating what is necessary to create training materials for the new generations. This method was applied for a pilot study for consolidating and preserving WWER RPV safety related knowledge, which is scattered in many countries and in different languages, facing a serious issue in terms of getting lost. This initiative could be the start of a wider Nuclear Knowledge Preservation and Consolidation activity. Experience gained from the first exercise will be presented in this paper.JRC.F.4-Safety of future nuclear reactor

Some observations on the career orientations, mobility and expectations of professionals in the nuclear sector

Several International Organizations, such as the IAEA, OECD-NEA and the EC have raised concerns regarding a possible shortage of skilled people in the Nuclear Energy Sector in Europe. Apart from measures undertaken by International Communities and several EU-Member States it is vital to know how to attract potential employees. The three organizations a) EHRO-N, the European Human Resources Observatory in the Nuclear Energy Sector, operated by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, b) ENS, the European Nuclear Society and c) Thomas Thor Associates jointly prepared a survey on career orientations and expectations of nuclear professionals. The web based Survey of 18 questions was distributed to the network of EHRO-N, ENS and Thomas Thor Associates, guaranteeing data protection rules. The survey could therefore reach around 10.000 potential respondents. A summary and analysis of the responses of the survey are presented in this report.JRC.F.4-Nuclear Reactor Integrity Assessment and Knowledge Managemen

European Science and Technology Network on Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction: Annual Report 2015

The present report firstly summarizes the background for creating the "European Science and Technology Network on Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction", based on a Communication from the European Commission to the Council and the Parliament. It further describes the organisation and functioning of the Network as well as the status of the foreseen deliverables of the Working Groups realized in 2015.JRC.F.3-Energy Security, Systems and Marke