The nuclear industry mainly includes uranium mining, nuclear fuel fabrication, nuclear power plant operation and radioactive waste management. Nuclear energy is a low-carbon energy because it does not emit greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. It is therefore an energy that can significantly contribute to decarbonising the energy mix in many countries, in addition to other low-carbon energies (hydraulic energy, renewable energies: wind, solar, etc.).
The main challenge is to ensure all stages from supply to waste reprocessing (without emitting greenhouse gases) to meet the growing global demand for electricity. New types of materials are needed to enable the development of new generation plants (EPR) and micro power plants (SMR). In addition, there is a need to ensure the sustainability of existing plants and the dismantling of plants at the end of their life. As far as military nuclear power is concerned, the issue is simple: to ensure national defence.
The main issue is to ensure the reliability and safety of the infrastructures. It is the expertise in materials that must enable us to meet the ever more demanding specifications in terms of technical performance. At the heart of the nuclear industry’s innovation process, we must be able to characterise, transform and develop new materials and help to qualify components.
AET Group has been involved in nuclear safety for over 50 years, working with civil and military research centres to support them in the characterisation, transformation and development of materials.
We provide innovative technological solutions to guarantee the durability of materials and achieve the approval of the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN). We also provide hot mechanical testing solutions to ensure the reliability of components by limiting risks. Material resistance tests are used to improve the safety of infrastructures. In addition, our expertise in sintering allows us to be involved in fuel production and in the development of current and future materials. Last but not least, we take part in the development of incinerators for the treatment of waste, particularly during the dismantling of power plants.
Our teams of CEFRI-certified experts are involved in the nuclear industry to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.