Knowledge Sessions NRG PALLAS
In the autumn of 2025, NRG PALLAS organized a series of Knowledge Sessions in the former church in Petten. During five evenings, various experts took the stage to share their expertise.
The kickoff took place in September. Folkert Draaisma guided the audience through the world of radiation protection. After all, radiation is not found only behind the fences of the campus, it is all around us. He demonstrated this during the evening using a Geiger counter. His presentation was a mix of current events and practical examples. For instance, did you know that a pilot receives more radiation annually than a reactor operator?
The following session, hosted by Marcel Stokkel, generated so much interest that we scheduled a second session, which also filled up quickly. Marcel, a specialist in nuclear medicine at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital and Program Manager of the NRG PALLAS Academy, can explain like no other which isotopes are produced in the reactor and how these products are used by hospitals. Using pictures, charts, and videos, he painted a clear picture of the possibilities offered by today’s isotopes and the current state of knowledge.
In November, it was the turn of Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Marieke Klaver, who gave a presentation on the environment, landscape integration, and water management. Together with Ewoud Luiten, ecologist at Kwinfra, she guided the audience through the complex reasoning behind the realization of PALLAS and the associated requirements. She offered a glimpse into the nature surrounding the construction site and explained how the reactor will blend seamlessly into this landscape. Which plants and animals are found here? How is water managed? And how were the views and concerns of the local community been incorporated into the reactor’s design?
In the final session, we took a deep dive into the construction of the PALLAS-reactor. Construction Manager Ben Slee discussed the building activities of recent years as well as the plans for the coming two years. What requirements are placed on the construction process? How do we safeguard quality, and how do we gather the knowledge needed for the realization of new nuclear facilities? It has been more than 50 years since a reactor was last built in the Netherlands; which are the key differences between then and now?
NRG PALLAS happily looks back on these succesful sessions. We would like to sincerely thank everyone who attended one or more of the sessions for their presence, enthusiasm, and curiosity.
