Key Issues
Safely Managing Used Nuclear Fuel
<< Previous
Centralized Off-Site Storage Facility
Until a recycling facility or a repository is ready to accept used fuel from nuclear power plants, the United States could benefit from centralized interim storage. Interim storage would provide for a more effective and efficient used fuel management system by consolidating the material and optimizing the transportation infrastructure that would be necessary for the eventual movement of the material to a recycling facility or a permanent geologic repository. It would also demonstrate that the United States can centrally manage used nuclear fuel.
Closing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
The resurgence of nuclear energy in the United States and around the world has led to a reassessment of the nation’s long-term used fuel management program, including renewed interest in nuclear fuel recycling and advanced nuclear fuel-cycle technologies. These technologies include advanced reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, advanced fuel fabrication and development of new reactor designs that could further minimize byproducts of the uranium fuel cycle. These technologies, taken together, could reduce the volume, heat and radiotoxicity of nuclear waste byproducts requiring disposal.
These advanced technologies will also take advantage of the enormous amount of energy remaining in the fuel rods after they are removed from the reactor. Existing recycling technologies already do this to a certain extent. However, advanced recycling technologies would accomplish a more complete recycling in a way that does not produce nuclear materials that could be diverted to weapons-related activities.
Any decision to pursue advanced fuel cycles in the United States must consider economic and nonproliferation challenges associated with recycling uranium fuel.
Whether or not the United States decides to pursue recycling, it will still require a permanent repository. All nations that reprocess used fuel, such as France and Japan, also are developing repositories.
Centralized Off-Site Storage Facility
Until a recycling facility or a repository is ready to accept used fuel from nuclear power plants, the United States could benefit from centralized interim storage. Interim storage would provide for a more effective and efficient used fuel management system by consolidating the material and optimizing the transportation infrastructure that would be necessary for the eventual movement of the material to a recycling facility or a permanent geologic repository. It would also demonstrate that the United States can centrally manage used nuclear fuel.
Closing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
The resurgence of nuclear energy in the United States and around the world has led to a reassessment of the nation’s long-term used fuel management program, including renewed interest in nuclear fuel recycling and advanced nuclear fuel-cycle technologies. These technologies include advanced reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, advanced fuel fabrication and development of new reactor designs that could further minimize byproducts of the uranium fuel cycle. These technologies, taken together, could reduce the volume, heat and radiotoxicity of nuclear waste byproducts requiring disposal.
These advanced technologies will also take advantage of the enormous amount of energy remaining in the fuel rods after they are removed from the reactor. Existing recycling technologies already do this to a certain extent. However, advanced recycling technologies would accomplish a more complete recycling in a way that does not produce nuclear materials that could be diverted to weapons-related activities.
Any decision to pursue advanced fuel cycles in the United States must consider economic and nonproliferation challenges associated with recycling uranium fuel.
Whether or not the United States decides to pursue recycling, it will still require a permanent repository. All nations that reprocess used fuel, such as France and Japan, also are developing repositories.
