ENERGY SAFETY GROUP AT NUCNEXT-2026: ENGINEERING EXPERTISE AND IN-HOUSE R&D DEVELOPMENTS

Specialists from the Energy Safety Group took part in the 8th International Scientific and Technical Conference NUCNEXT 2026, «Prospects for Introducing Innovations into Nuclear Energy», which took place on 24–25 September in Kyiv. The event brought together over 200 participants and 80 speakers — representatives of government bodies, the nuclear industry, research institutions, Ukrainian nuclear power stations, design and industrial enterprises, and international organisations.

As part of the conference programme, Oleksandr Mazurok, CTO of Energy Safety Group and head of the scientific and analytical section of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society, moderated three panel discussions: «Trends in reactor technology development», «Innovative nuclear technologies and their deployment prospects», and «Computational innovations for improving NPP safety and efficiency». Participants discussed the development of modern reactor technologies, new engineering solutions and the possibilities for their practical application in the nuclear power sector.

A key aspect of Energy Safety Group’s participation in NUCNEXT 2026 was the presentation of the results of the scientific, technical and research work carried out by the company’s specialists. The development of the R&D programme at Energy Safety Group is linked to the practical challenges facing the nuclear industry and encompasses computational studies, the justification of equipment specifications, and the development and refinement of engineering solutions to enhance the safety of nuclear facilities.

Specialists from Energy Safety Group presented the results of their research and engineering work in several areas at NUCNEXT 2026:

• Bohdan Lankov delivered a presentation on the «Justification of the hydraulic characteristics of the control rod assembly extension manufactured by the SS «AEM» of JSC «NNEGC «Energoatom»;
• Andriy Hanenko presented a poster entitled «Long-term containment heat removal system for NPPs with VVER-1000 reactors. An improved design»;
• Hanna Meleshko presented a poster on «Overcoming the challenges of restarting the Kyiv research nuclear reactor».

The topics covered by the presented works demonstrate the breadth of Energy Safety Group’s R&D expertise — ranging from research into the characteristics of individual pieces of equipment to the development of system-level solutions for enhancing the safety of power units, and research related to the return to operation of nuclear facilities.

One such area is the further development of technology for long-term heat removal from the containment vessel. The Energy Safety Group has practical experience in developing and implementing relevant solutions for power units with VVER-440 reactors, and the improved design for the VVER-1000 presented at NUCNEXT 2026 continues the company’s research and engineering work in this area. This approach allows the company to use its accumulated practical experience as a basis for the further development of technologies and their adaptation to other types of power units.

During the conference, particular attention was paid to technical solutions for NPP equipment, the development of reactor technologies and the long-term operation of power units. Participants discussed the implementation of the AP1000, the prospects for small modular reactors, the reliability of VVER equipment and structures under long-term operation, as well as new approaches to improving the efficiency and safety of nuclear facilities.

For Energy Safety Group, developing its own R&D expertise forms part of a systematic approach to tackling complex engineering challenges. The practical implementation of projects provides engineers with the baseline data and experience needed for further research, whilst the results of calculations and scientific and technical developments can form the basis for new or improved technological solutions.

Participation in NUCNEXT 2026 provided an opportunity to present these developments to the Ukrainian professional and scientific community, to discuss them with specialists from operating organisations, research institutions and industrial enterprises, and to align our own R&D priorities with the current technological challenges facing the nuclear sector.

Energy Safety Group continues to develop its research and engineering capabilities by combining scientific and technical research, design justification and experience in implementing projects at nuclear facilities. This interaction between R&D and practical engineering forms the basis for developing solutions aimed at enhancing safety, reliability and technological advancement in the nuclear energy sector.