The FuTure oF nuclear Fuel cycle - MIT Energy Initiative

There have been major changes in our understandings of fuel cycle constraints (larger uranium
resources, conversion ratio of one for sustainable reactors,…), goals have changed,
and new technologies (Appendices B and C) have been developed. These factors have expanded
fuel cycle options and provide us with choices that we did not previously have.
However, there has been little examination of fuel cycle options for several decades. Because
of the large resources required to develop and implement alternative fuel cycles and
national impacts, there are large incentives to examine options before making multi-decade
decisions. The central objective of the proposed RD&D program is to provide the information
to make informed choices in the available time.
orGanization oF rd&d
There are major roles for government and private industry. Much of the RD&D and most
of the major infrastructure facilities support multiple government missions. Irradiation test
facilities and fuel examination facilities are required for nuclear power, naval propulsion,
and space nuclear power. Fuel cycle infrastructure facilities support non-nuclear-power
nonproliferation programs. Major infrastructure facilities typically last for decades and will
support different national missions over time as they have done in the past.
Nuclear energy R&D has been primarily funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and
its predecessor organizations, Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). Several offices have supported R&D relevant
to the nuclear fuel cycle:
p DOE-NE – reactor and fuel cycle development
p DOE-EM – defense waste (but many technologies applicable to commercial fuel cycles)
p DOE-RW – SNF-HLW disposal (now merged into NE)
p DOE-NNSA – non-proliferation
p DOE-OS – scientific knowledge
The integration of DOE-RW (waste management) into DOE-NE (fuel cycle) is a step in the
right direction for R&D. In addition there are a number of agencies responsible for regulatory
oversight: NRC, EPA and state agencies. Some of these agencies have their own needs
for nuclear research and development, most specifically safety-related R&D supported by
the NRC. Within the DOE management structure, R&D is distributed across National Laboratories,
as well as universities and industry. Another complication is that these laboratories
have stewardship by different DOE offices (NE, EM, Science and Defense Programs),
with different priorities with respect to facilities maintenance and development. DOE needs
to develop a coherent plan and management structure for fuel cycle RD&D, including development
and maintenance of the critical research infrastructure.
The recently published DOE-NE research and development roadmap 3 addresses the key
challenges to increase the use of nuclear energy both domestically and internationally, with
one of its objectives being the development of sustainable nuclear fuel cycles. It has a strong
focus on improving LWR systems and is a start in the right direction. The roadmap identifies
areas where enabling technologies need to be developed, but the specific tasks related to
the development of these enabling technologies are not defined.
140 MIT STudy on The FuTure oF nuclear Fuel cycle