In the coming decades, HALEU fuel will be required for the new generation of reactor designs that are currently in development. However, the anticipated cost of HALEU for advanced reactors will be 4-5x the cost of current LEU price, suggesting that HALEU costs will be significant. Recycling, particularly pyroprocessing, is a technology that could offer
Currently there are challenges to developing energy security in the US from a fuel security perspective as there is a higher demand than available capacity. Russia had previously dominated the global market from its large available capacity relative to its small demand, but without the Russian supply, supply challenges will remain. In order to ensure
August 21-24, 2023, GABI organized a high-level private trilateral workshop among nuclear fuel cycle experts from the US, South Korea, and Japan to discuss opportunities in fuel cycle management to enable a closed fuel cycle. Given the move towards advanced reactors and SMRs that may utilize different fuel than the existing fleet, opportunities exist for
Hydrogen has been referred to as the “Swiss army knife” of the decarbonization solution. Looking at the uses of hydrogen, the potential demand for hydrogen globally can be incredibly large. When thinking about how to produce all the hydrogen needed cleanly, nuclear becomes an obvious solution. Furthermore, advanced reactors and SMRs can be more efficient
In order to access the full text, please click download (below). DOWNLOAD
The fusion industry today comprises 43 verified private fusion companies with $6.2 billion in investment. There is increasing optimism on timescales, and there is growing interest from governments in public private partnerships. Furthermore, there is a growing geographical diversity in the interests of fusion, but significant challenges remain. The Department of Energy has announced its
Nuclear energy is largely driven by its ability to enable clean urban living. Rapid global urbanization, energy security concerns, and decarbonization of industrial sectors are all significant factors driving the shift towards nuclear energy, as nuclear is the only “always-on, emission-free small footprint” solution. Land use is a significant value addition for nuclear technologies as
Reprocessing of nuclear fuel for recycled use into reactors has traditionally not been conducted in the United States due to the poor economics of utilizing recycled fuel versus obtaining fresh fuel. However, with Advanced Fast Reactors coming towards the horizon of commercial deployment, the economics around fuel are changing to suggest that reprocessing spent fuel
Sanctions on Russia have created a large shortage of HALEU production capabilities for Western nations. The United States nuclear industry will need HALEU to support the federal activities to commercialize advanced reactors, but the industry is not currently in the position to fund the actions to establish the necessary fuel supply chain. The United States
