Name of the Project
Multipurpose hybrid research reactor for high-tech applications (MYRRHA).

Location
The site of Belgian nuclear research centre, SCK CEN, in Mol, Belgium.

Project Owner/s
MYRRHA.

Project Description
The project is the world’s first large-scale accelerator-driven system (ADS) that comprises a 100 MW thermal subcritical nuclear reactor driven by a high-power linear accelerator.

The project comprises four main components:

• a 400-m-long linear accelerator (linac), which will provide protons at an energy of 600 mass energy equivalent (MeV) to the reactor. The accelerator was selected because of its enhanced beam stability when compared with cyclotrons.
• a pool-type reactor cooled by 7 800 t of lead-bismuth eutectic coolant. All primary systems are within the double-walled, 16-m-high and 10-m-wide vessel.
• a proton target facility (PTF), which will surround the isotope separation on-line, or ISOL, system, where a wide range of radioisotopes will be produced by nuclear reactions of the proton beam with the primary target material.
• the full power facility – a flexible, nuclear fusion-orientated research infrastructure designed to handle a proton beam of 4 mA and 100 MeV.

The project will be completed in phases. 

Phase 1 involves the development of the MINERVA facility, which consists of the particle accelerator and two target facilities. In

Phase 2, the particle accelerator will be expanded to 600 MeV to increase the fundamental physics portfolio and expand it with radioactive isotope beam facilities. In Phase 3, the nuclear reactor will be built.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
€1.6-billion. The government of Belgium committed €558-million towards the construction of the project in September 2018.

Planned Start/End Date
The project was approved in 2018. Phase 1 is scheduled for completion in 2026, Phase 2 in 2033 and Phase 3 in 2036.

The European research project should be operational from 2038.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
MYRRHA, tel +32 2 460 08 00.