THORIUM AS AN ENERGY SOURCE - Opportunities for Norway ...

5.4.2 Generation IV Reactors
Nuclear Reactors for Thorium
Launched in 2000 by the US, the Generation IV initiative is a collaborative effort of the world's
leading nuclear technology nations to develop the next generation nuclear energy systems to meet
the world's future energy needs. The GIF members, gathered within the Generation IV
International Forum (GIF) chartered in 2001, defined the eight following goals for these systems
in four key areas; sustainability, economics, safety and reliability, proliferation resistance and
physical protection:
1. Sustainability-1: Generation IV nuclear energy systems will provide sustainable energy
generation that meets clean air objectives and provides long-term availability of systems and
effective fuel utilization for worldwide energy production.
2. Sustainability-2: Generation IV nuclear energy systems will minimize and manage their
nuclear waste and notably reduce the long-term stewardship burden, thereby improving
protection for the public health and the environment.
3. Economics-1: Generation IV nuclear energy systems will have a clear life-cycle cost advantage
over other energy sources.
4. Economics-2: Generation IV nuclear energy systems will have a level of financial risk
comparable to other energy projects.
5. Safety and Reliability-1: Generation IV nuclear energy systems operations will excel in safety
and reliability.
6. Safety and Reliability-2: Generation IV nuclear systems will have a very low likelihood and
degree of reactor core damage.
7. Safety and Reliability-3: Generation IV nuclear energy systems will eliminate the need for
offsite emergency response.
8. Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection: Generation IV nuclear energy systems
will increase the assurance that they are very unattractive and the least desirable route for
diversion or theft of weapons-usable materials, and provide increased physical protection
against acts of terrorism.
In 2002, the GIF selected the six most promising systems that offer advantages in the four key
areas and could be deployed commercially by 2030 [5].
Nowadays, the GIF has the following 13 members: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Euratom,
France, Japan, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Republic of South Africa, Switzerland,
the United Kingdom, and the United States. Currently eight Members are Parties to the
Intergovernmental Framework Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and
Development of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems (Canada, China, France, Japan, Republic
of Korea, Switzerland, the United States and the European Atomic Energy Community
(Euratom)) while the five others have not yet acceded to or ratified this Agreement which is the
overarching legal basis for the GIF activities and includes provisions for the implementation of
collaboration through a structure of System Arrangements (one per selected system) and Project
Arrangements focusing on the key issues in each system.
The Table 5.5 gives the main characteristics of the six Generation IV systems in alphabetic order.
It should be noted that, for sustainability reasons, most of the six systems use fast neutrons and a
closed fuel cycle since it allows a better use of natural resources and minimizes the high-level
waste to be sent to a repository. Moreover, the temperature ranges for the six systems are much
higher than the operating temperature of the current light water reactors (below 330°C) which on
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