Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is expediting the commercialization and international standardization of the ‘modular construction method,’ a key technology for the construction of next-generation nuclear power plants.
On August 13, KHNP jointly hosted the ‘International Workshop on Modular Construction Methods’ with the Korea Electric Association (KEA) at BEXCO in Busan, as announced on August 14.
This workshop was organized as part of a national research and development project led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. About 90 industry experts, domestic and international nuclear structure and construction specialists, and industry stakeholders attended to discuss the current status and future strategies of modular technology development.
Participants included representatives from Korea Electric Power Technology (KEPCO E&C), the Korea Society of Steel Structures, as well as experts from the U.S. Department of Energy, Purdue University, the UK Steel Structures Association, and Tohoku University in Japan. The event served as a platform for sharing global trends and research directions related to modular construction technology. KHNP assessed that this workshop laid a solid foundation for consolidating proof-of-concept data and expanding international cooperation on the technology.
The modular construction method involves pre-fabricating steel plate concrete (SC) structures in factories and installing them on-site. Compared to traditional on-site construction, this approach offers significant advantages such as reduced construction time, improved quality, and cost savings. Thanks to these features, the technology is gaining attention not only for next-generation nuclear plants but also for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are emerging as new solutions for nuclear energy.
KHNP plans to first apply the results of ongoing international joint research to the construction of Shin Hanul 3 and 4 units, with plans to expand its application to innovative reactors like SMRs in the future.
Kim Il-kyung, head of KHNP’s Construction Business Division, emphasized, “In response to rising global power demand, we need technologies that surpass the limitations of traditional construction methods,” adding, “The modular construction method is a strategic technology that meets these pressing needs of our era.”
