Experts in Nuclear Safety Gathered in Norway

This week, the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), on behalf of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, organized the fourth edition of the Enlarged Halden HTO Programme Review Group meeting. Over 100 participants from 12 nations gathered in Voss for this nuclear safety conference.

Publisert: 9. May 2025

Photo: Jonas B. Bjørnes, IFE

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The Enlarged Halden HTO Programme Review Group meeting (EHPRG) is the main conference for the Halden HTO Project, also known as the Halden Project. The Halden HTO Project is a continuation of the original Halden Project that started in 1958.

The conference addresses the interaction between humans, technology, and organization (HTO) with a focus on the following topics:

  • HUMAN PERFORMANCE
  • DIGITAL I&C – SAFETY ASSURANCE
  • CONTROL ROOM DESIGN & EVALUATION
  • HUMAN-AUTOMATION COLLABORATION 
  • DIGITAL SYSTEMS FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 
  • SUSTAINABLE DECOMMISSIONING and ASSET LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT
  • CYBER SECURITY FOR MAIN CONTROL ROOMS

Andreas Bye, the program manager for the Halden Project, is very pleased with the execution of the conference.

“Nuclear power has experienced a renaissance worldwide in recent years, with great interest in this technology. The research being conducted on nuclear safety now will be part of tomorrow’s solutions. Therefore, it is very gratifying that 12 nations are gathered in Norway this week to advance nuclear safety research.”

Andreas Bye

Program manager Halden Project and chief scientist IFE

Andreas Bye is gratified over the interest of this conference. Photo: Jonas B. Bjørnes, IFE

Last year, the Halden Project held the closing conference for the fuel and materials program in Loen, and Bye is very pleased that so many organizations see the value in continuing the project within HTO.

“Key Note Speakers” from the opening of the conference. From left Mitsuhiro Takanashi, Nuclear Regulation Authority Japan, Bjørn Axel Gran, vice president IFE, Brian Smith, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Jonathan Hyde, UK National Nuclear Laboratory, Johan Enkvist, Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, Nina Cromnier, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Bruce Hallbert, Idaho National Laboratory, USA, Kenichi Hayase, CRIEPI, Japan, Andreas Bye, program manager Halden Project and chief scientist IFE. Photo: Jonas B. Bjørnes, IFE

A Synonym for Nuclear Safety

Bjørn Axel Gran, vice president for IFE, believes that this conference and the continuity of the Halden Project demonstrate the roles IFE has in the international research community for nuclear safety and the role IFE can play in shaping how operational concepts for nuclear power in Norway should look. In Voss, IFE received valuable input from Norwegian HTO partners Equinor and Kongsberg Maritime.

“IFE has been running the Halden Project since 1958, and the project name has become synonymous with nuclear safety in the industry. We see that the project has increasing interest, which is very gratifying and shows that the project is managing its mission well.”

Bjørn Axel Gran

Vice president IFE

Bjørn Axel Gran enjoyed the conference. Photo: Jonas B. Bjørnes

Important for Knowledge Development to Continue

Nina Cromnier from the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency says the conference is highly beneficial for nuclear safety.

“Questions about human aspects of nuclear safety are central to the safety of the entire facility. Therefore, advances in research on human aspects are incredibly important to us, and we will contribute to ensuring that knowledge development continues”

Nina Cromnier

Head of Division Radiological Protection and Human aspects of Nuclear Safety, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

Cromnier from NEA finds the conference highly educational. Photo: Jonas B. Bjørnes, IFE

Cromnier further states that the conference has been exciting and very educational.

“Very pleased with the conference, and it has been exciting to hear about various research projects involved in this work. It has been very educational.”

Nina Cromnier

Head of Division Radiological Protection and Human aspects of Nuclear Safety, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

Nuclear Power and the Petroleum Industry Learn from Each Other 

In a special session, the focus was directed towards the North Sea and integrated operations for the oil and gas sector. For an audience where the core competence of the research is related to the nuclear industry, there was a good insight into how there are several commonalities between the oil and gas sector and the nuclear industry.

Discussion on integrated operations. From left: Sherman Jason Remer, Idaho National Laboratory; Luke Martin, ScottMadden; Vidar Hepsø, Equinor; and Trond Lilleng, formerly Equinor. The discussion was moderated by Bruce Hallbert, Idaho National Laboratory, and Asgeir Drøivoldsmo, IFE. Photo: Jonas B. Bjørnes, IFE

Fourth Time with “Own” HTO Conference

This year’s EHPRG conference is the fourth in a series of dedicated conferences for research on the interaction between humans, technology, and organization (HTO). Previously, HTO was part of the Enlarged Halden Programme Group (EHPG) conference. EHPG, focusing on fuel and materials, held its closing conference in Loen in 2024.

There are twenty participating organizations from twelve countries: USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, China, United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Norway.

The main purpose is to improve safety in the nuclear industry through international collaborative research. The collaboration is led by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) in Paris, and funding is provided by the member organizations.

HTO Summer School

In cooperation with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the Norwegian Nuclear Research Centre (NNRC), the Halden HTO Project will continue the successful tradition of transferring knowledge to the younger generation and contributing to competence building in the nuclear industry. Therefore, the Halden HTO Project will organize a Summer School on Implementation of Emerging Technologies from 31st August to 4th September 2025 in Halden, Norway.

You can find more information here.

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