CATAPULT research presented at NENE 2026

The CATAPULT project was presented at the International Conference Nuclear Energy for New Europe (NENE 2026), held in September 2026 in Portorož, Slovenia.

Tanja Perko (SCK CEN) presented joint work with Meritxell Martell (Merience) and Johan Camps (SCK CEN) on public and stakeholder participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

The presentation was based on the CATAPULT proceedings paper and findings from three expert workshops conducted within the project. The research addressed two central questions: What is specific about EIA for SMRs, and whether and how public and stakeholder participation can contribute to the quality and legitimacy of the assessment and to more transparent, robust and justifiable subsequent decisions?

The CATAPULT workshops identified several aspects that may require particular attention in EIA for SMRs, including the transport of reactor modules, source term and accident scenarios, consideration of alternatives, grid and radioactive-waste infrastructure, and the potential siting of SMRs closer to residential or industrial areas. The findings also highlighted that meaningful participation involves more than formally meeting consultation requirements. Public and stakeholder participation can provide opportunities to raise concerns, contribute relevant knowledge, question assumptions and alternatives, and understand how different inputs have been considered in the EIA process. Conversely, participation perceived as merely procedural or symbolic may weaken the legitimacy of the assessment and subsequent decision-making.

The presentation at NENE 2026 provided an opportunity to discuss CATAPULT's research on the societal and participatory dimensions of EIA for SMRs with the wider nuclear research and professional community. Extended proceedings are expected to be published in next weeks.