The US Department of 抖阴传媒在线 has allocated $18.3 million for more detailed studies towards the advanced nuclear fuel reprocessing centres and reactors it envisages at the centre of the Global Nuclear 抖阴传媒在线 Partnership (GNEP).
听
The DoE is spending $5.7 million with 抖阴传媒在线 Solutions; $5.7 million with the International Nuclear Recycling Alliance, led by Areva and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries; $5.5 million with General Electric-Hitachi; and $1.3 million with General Atomics.
听
The latest awards follow a $16 million spend in October 2007 with the same groups on conceptual design studies, technology development roadmaps, business plans and a communication strategy to support decisions on the advanced reactor and nuclear fuel reprocessing and recycling centre proposed under GNEP. Dennis Spurgeon, the US assistant secretary for nuclear energy, said: "This industry analysis and technical planning will inform GNEP decision making and support international cooperation."
听
The GNEP听concept requires two main technological leaps. An integrated used nuclear fuel reprocessing and recycling centre must be designed to take highly-radioactive used nuclear fuel as an input and transform it into three streams: fresh light-water reactor fuel containing recycled uranium and plutonium; advanced reactor fuel containing actinides currently thought of as waste; and a much-reduced volume of waste for permanent geologic disposal. In addition, the advanced burner reactors that will use the actinide fuel must be developed from basic concepts outlined today.
听
Separately almost $10.5 million has been spent on siting studies for the new facilities while GNEP research is ongoing into advanced reactors.
听
听
_69614.jpg)
_15447.jpg)
