Completed
This study responds to a congressional mandate in the FY2020 Appropriations Act's Conference Report in the subsection titled “Used Nuclear Fuel Disposition R&D," which calls for the Academies to “evaluate the merits and viability of different nuclear fuel cycles and technology options, including both existing and future technologies” and will examine “the waste aspects of advanced reactors.” The study will result in two reports produced by a committee of experts convened by the Academies. The reports will contain consensus findings and recommendations to advise the Department of Energy, Congress, and other relevant stakeholders.
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Consensus
·2023
The United States has deployed commercial nuclear power since the 1950s, and as of 2021, nuclear power accounts for approximately 20 percent of U.S. electricity generation. The current commercial nuclear fleet consists entirely of thermal-spectrum, light water reactors operating with low-enriched ur...
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Description
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will appoint an ad hoc committee of experts to evaluate and assess nuclear fuel cycles and technology options and the waste aspects of advanced nuclear reactors that could be commercially deployed by 2050. The committee will consider the relevant work performed by the fuel cycle program of the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE), the various proposed advanced reactors investigated by DOE-NE, and other relevant programs. The committee will prepare a consensus report that will:
- Evaluate the merits and assess the viability of different nuclear fuel cycles, including fuel cycles that may use reprocessing, for both existing and advanced reactor technology options by:
Ø Accounting for linkages among all elements of the fuel cycle, including waste transportation, storage, and disposal associated with the front- and back-ends of the fuel cycle, and concerns related to safety.
Ø Examining the potential costs of the different nuclear fuel cycles required for advanced nuclear reactors.
· Evaluate nonproliferation implications and security risks of fuel cycles for advanced reactors by:
Ø Including assessments of high-assay low-enriched uranium, uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel, and advanced fuel cycles that require separating plutonium from spent fuel.
Ø Examining nuclear material accounting and control as well as containment, surveillance, monitoring, and timeliness of detection of diversion.
Ø Accounting for how these can be addressed by International Atomic Energy Agency safeguard activities.
- Evaluate the waste management and disposal options for the various proposed advanced nuclear reactors by:
Ø Accounting for typical volumes and physical, chemical, and isotopic characteristics of waste streams, including from possible reprocessing, from these advanced nuclear reactor technologies.
Ø Examining transportation, storage, and ultimate disposal requirements for these wastes.
The consensus report will provide findings and recommendations that may consider evidence-based policy options.
Collaborators
Committee
Chair
Vice Chair
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Staff Officer
Committee Membership Roster Comments
Houston G. Wood resigned from the committee effective September 16, 2021.
Rodney C. Ewing resigned from the committee effective July 11, 2022.
John C. Lee resigned from the committee effective September 16, 2022.
Jasmina Vujic served on the committee through September 16, 2022.
Sponsors
Department of Energy
Staff
Catherine Wise
John Holmes
Ourania Kosti
Darlene M Gros
Kasia Kornecki
Major units and sub-units
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
Lead
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Lead
Center for Advancing Science and Technology
Lead
Board on Energy and Environmental Systems
Lead
Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board
Lead
Physical Sciences, Systems, and Infrastructure Program Area
Lead
