Sustainable Nuclear Fuel Cycles Dr. Pete Lyons Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy U.S. Department of Energy

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1 Sustainable Nuclear Fuel Cycles Dr. Pete Lyons Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy U.S. Department of Energy Georgia Institute of Technology 50 th Anniversary Celebration Founding of the School of Nuclear Engineering 1962 Symposium on the Future of Nuclear Energy November 1, 2012

2 Nuclear Energy A Vital Part of America s Future Energy Security Ensure reliable energy to power our economy, homes, and maintain a standard of living, free from carbon emissions The only economic large-scale method to generate electricity that is essentially carbon-free Challenges Managing used nuclear fuel from the current fleet of reactors (near-term) Safely disposition nuclear fuel (near to mid-term) Nuclear energy sustainability (long-term) Success in meeting the above challenges is essential to ensure energy security, economic security, and environmental security 2

3 DOE Nuclear Energy R&D Roadmap DOE s Nuclear Energy R&D Roadmap Nuclear power is a key component of a portfolio of technologies that meets U.S. energy goals R&D activities are organized along four main objectives that address challenges to expanding the use of nuclear power Develop technologies that can improve the reliability, sustain the safety, and extend the life of current reactors Develop improvements in the affordability of new reactors to help meet energy security and climate change goals Develop sustainable nuclear fuel cycles Understand and minimize risks of nuclear proliferation 3

4 Office of Nuclear Energy Chief Operating Officer NE-1/2 Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee Senior Advisors NE-21 Office of Human Capital & Business Services NE-22 Office of Budget & Planning NE-3 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Facility Operations NE-4 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology Innovation NE-5 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fuel Cycle Technologies Planning Project NE-6 Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Nuclear Energy Policy and Cooperation NE-7 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactor Technologies Idaho Operations Office NE-41 Office of Advanced Modeling & Simulation NE-51 Office of Systems Engineering & Integration NE-61 Office of International Nuclear Energy Policy NE-72 Office of Light Water Reactor Technologies NE-31 Office of Facilities Management NE-42 Office of Innovative Nuclear Research NE-52 Office of Fuel Cycle Research & Development NE-62 Office of International Nuclear Fuel Management NE-74 Office of Advanced Reactor Technologies NE-53 Office of Used Nuclear Fuel Disposition Research & Development NE-75 Office of Space & Defense Power Systems NE-54 Office of Uranium Management and Policy 4

5 Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) Report - 8 Key Recommendations BRC-7 BRC-8 Advanced Fuel Cycles BRC affirms the need for R&D on advanced fuel cycles that represent advantages over today s technologies Create stable, long term support for research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) Active U.S. leadership in international efforts to address safety, non-proliferation, and security concerns BRC-1 BRC-2 BRC-4 BRC-5 Used Fuel Management BRC provides policy and planning framework that will help guide management of used nuclear fuel A new approach to siting and development A new, single purpose organization focused on nuclear waste in the United States Develop permanent deep geological disposal site(s) for spent fuel and high-level nuclear waste Develop one or more consolidated interim storage facilities as part of managing back end of nuclear fuel cycle 5

6 Fuel Cycle Technologies - Objectives Near-Term Long-Term 6

7 Development of Sustainable Nuclear Fuel Cycles A Systems Approach A Nuclear Energy System is: all required facilities and operations for the progression of nuclear fuel from mining and enrichment to power generation to ultimate disposal of the used fuel or derived waste products. Sustainable fuel cycle options are those that improve uranium resource utilization, increase energy generation, reduce waste generation, enhance safety, and do not contribute to an increase in proliferation risk. Many possible fuel cycle options exist 7

8 Once-Through Nuclear Systems- Includes Current U.S. Fuel Cycle Key Questions and Issues: Continuing storage of a growing spent fuel inventory Interim storage and geologic disposal still needs to be implemented Extent of uranium resources What are the impacts of alternative geologic media for disposal? Are there promising once-through options? 8

9 Closed or Partially Closed Nuclear Systems involving Recycle Key Questions: What are the benefits for systems involving recycle? Does irradiated fuel have value that can be recovered by reprocessing? Do engineered HLW forms offer significant disposal advantages over SNF? Issue: Numerous potential options are possible, including Limited or continuous recycle Different fuels, e.g. thorium» Note: Different reactor types may be used as fuel is recycled. 9

10 Answering Key Questions Which nuclear fuel cycle system options offer substantial beneficial improvements in performance? Where is DOE R&D investment needed to support the set of promising fuel cycle systems options and nuclear materials management approaches? What are the necessary technical objectives and performance goals? What materials management approaches can favorably impact fuel cycle options? 10

11 Sustainable Fuel Cycle Options - Analysis Provide a systematic, objective, and traceable method for evaluating and categorizing nuclear fuel cycles according to their performance potential in meeting FCT program objectives Enable R&D needs to be identified and prioritized more clearly, which enables better communication of the rationale for R&D funding decisions Allow the program to more rapidly adapt to future policy changes including any decisions taken based on recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future Facilitate dialog among a variety of stakeholder groups interested in U.S. energy policy and the future of nuclear energy in the U.S. 11

12 Approach: Evaluation & Screening of Options Evaluation and Screening informed by: Requirements Policy Stakeholder input Goals Evaluate technology alternatives Examine deployment options Understand system dynamics Identify critical program elements to inform where R&D should be targeted 12

13 Numerous Challenges in Selecting Options for Further/Future Development Numerous fuel cycle options are possible Numerous studies in the past with no clear consensus Long-time horizon Multiple interests and stakeholders Variations in policy directions over time To its credit DOE has taken a systematic approach to planning for the complex, scientifically challenging process of identifying and selecting sustainable nuclear fuel cycle options and associated technologies Government Accountability Office 13

14 Key Activities in Screening Fuel Cycle Options Develop a comprehensive fuel cycle option list Approximately 5300 fuel cycles were identified that were then collected into about 45 groups with similar characteristics for evaluation Develop metrics to measure performance Develop evaluation and screening approach and tools Conduct the evaluation and screening using experienced, internationally recognized scientists and engineers Identification of possible R&D directions Independent review of process and outcomes 2013 Evaluation Criteria Nuclear Waste Management Proliferation Risk Nuclear Material Security Risk Safety Financial Risk and Economics Environmental Impact Resource Utilization Development and Deployment Risk (including licensing) Institutional concerns 14

15 Accomplishments and Milestones FY12: Development Phase - Developed Options, Metrics and Evaluation Methods Developed Fuel Cycle Catalog (Sep 2012) FY13: Evaluation Phase - Begin evaluation and screening (Jul 2013) FY14: Final Report Phase - Complete evaluation and screening (Dec 2013) Publish final report on evaluation and screening (May 2014) FY15+: Transition Analyses - Conduct transition scenario analyses Conduct more detailed evaluation and screening on preferred options 15

16 Closing Remarks Energy Security: Nuclear energy is critical to the nation s energy security and clean energy needs Fuel Cycle Options Analysis has completed the Development Phase and is transitioning to the Evaluation Phase - Final Report May 2014 Near term program focus on: Development of enhanced accident tolerant fuels Exploration of generic concepts for storage and disposal of UNF Long term focus on sustainable fuel cycles Numerous potential fuel cycle options are technically possible Analysis will optimize fuel cycle choices for further research 16