Office of Nuclear Energy Research and Development. Jay Jones Office of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Fuels Storage and Transportation Planning Project

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1 Office of Nuclear Energy Research and Development Jay Jones Office of Nuclear Energy Nuclear Fuels Storage and Transportation Planning Project Nuclear Energy Tribal Working Group Meeting January 27, 2016

2 Organization Structure of the Office of Nuclear Energy Chief Operating Officer Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee Office of Human Capital & Business Services Office of Budget & Planning Senior Advisors Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Facility Operations Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology Innovation Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fuel Cycle Technologies Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Nuclear Energy Policy and Cooperation Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactor Technologies Idaho Operations Office Office of Advanced Modeling & Stimulation Office of Systems Engineering & Integration Office of International Nuclear Energy Policy Office of Light Water Reactor Technologies Oak Ridge Site Office Office of Innovative Nuclear Research Office of Fuel Cycle Research & Development Office of International Nuclear Fuel Management Office of Advanced Reactor Technologies Office of Facilities Management Office of Used Nuclear Fuel Disposition Research & Development Office of Space & Defense Power Systems Office of Uranium Management and Policy 2

3 Organizational Structure of NE-5 3

4 Nuclear Reactor Technologies Transportation and Storage Deep Borehole Disposal Current R&D in the Office of Nuclear Energy 4

5 Global Nuclear Projections Number of reactors planned Might Build 434 nuclear reactors are operable in 31 countries 73 reactors currently under construction in 14 countries More than 300 reactors are proposed in 36 countries over the next 15 years --- World Nuclear Association as of June 1,

6 Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program LWRS Program Goal Develop fundamental scientific basis to allow continued long-term safe operation of existing LWRs (beyond 60 years) and their long-term economic viability LWRS program is developing technologies and other solutions to Enable long term operation of the existing nuclear power plants Improve reliability Sustain safety LWRS focus areas Materials Aging and Degradation Advanced Instrumentation and Controls Risk-Informed Safety Margin Characterization Reactor Safety Technology 6

7 Small Modular Reactors SMRs: reactor units with less than 300 MWe and are able to have large components or modules fabricated remotely and transported to the site for assembly. Potential Benefits Enhanced safety and security Reduced capital cost makes nuclear power feasible for more utilities Shorter construction schedules due to modular construction Improved quality due to replication in factory-setting Meets electric demand growth incrementally Regain technical leadership and advance innovative reactor technologies and concepts Potential Markets Domestic and international utility markets Non-electrical (process heat/desalination) customers 7

8 SMR Licensing Technical Support Program Major challenge for commercialization is completing the NRC licensing process In 2012, DOE initiated the SMR Licensing Technical Support program Currently a 6 year/$452 M program Accelerate commercial SMR development through public/private arrangements Exploring additional mechanisms for SMR fleet deployment I believe small modular reactors could represent the next generation of nuclear energy technology, providing a strong opportunity for America to lead this emerging global industry. -- Secretary of Energy, Dr. Ernest Moniz 8

9 Advanced Reactor Focus Areas Fast Reactor Technologies For actinide management and electricity production Current focus on sodium coolant High Temperature Reactor Technologies For electricity and process heat production Current focus on gas- and liquid salt-cooled systems Advanced Reactor Generic Technologies Common design needs for advanced materials, energy conversion, decay heat removal systems and modeling methods 9

10 Space and Defense Power Systems Programmatic Goals Design, develop, build and deliver radioisotope power systems for space exploration and national security applications Support research, development and design of fission power systems for space exploration and national security needs Benefits Enable NASA and national security missions in locations and environments where other power systems such as chemical batteries and solar power systems do not work Long history of use in space First launched in 1961, used safely and reliably on 28 missions for over 50 years Enabled exploration of Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and the Sun And since August of 2012, we have been exploring interstellar space with the Voyager 1 spacecraft launched 37 years ago 10

11 New Horizons Pluto Encounter July 14, 2015 Low-Resolution Full Body Color Image Pluto at best Hubble resolution at time of launch 11

12 Reactor Technology Overview DOE is working with the NRC, industry, academia and international partners to: Sustain the current commercial nuclear power fleet Develop small modular reactors for deployment Develop the next generation of advanced reactors Expanding nuclear energy can help achieve the Administration's clean energy goals President Obama has made clear that nuclear energy is an important part of our all-of-the-above energy strategy. In partnership with our nuclear industry, the U.S. Government is supporting the deployment of passively safe reactors both in the United States and around the world. U.S. Secretary of Energy, Dr. Ernest Moniz September 2015 Vienna, Austria 12

13 Extended Storage & Transportation Integrated R&D 13

14 Extended Storage & Transportation R&D Evaluation of degradation mechanisms relevant to long-term storage and subsequent transportation: Effects of hydride formation and reorientation on the material properties of high-burnup cladding Corrosion of stainless steel canisters Thermal history of used fuel in storage Thermal profiles of dry storage systems Mechanical loads on fuel assemblies during normal conditions of transport 14

15 On-Going R&D Relevant to Transportation and Storage Conducting R&D to close technical gaps germane to both the initial transportation of SNF and any subsequent transportation that would be required after interim storage Understanding aging management during interim storage Provide part of the bases for subsequent transportation to a repository Aging management under development Evaluate degradation during storage 15

16 Used Fuel Disposition Focus for Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Provide a sound technical basis for multiple viable disposal options in the US Increase confidence in the robustness of generic disposal concepts Develop the science and engineering tools needed to support disposal concept implementation 16

17 Deep Borehole Disposal Concept 5,000 m deep borehole(s) in crystalline basement rock, well below fresh groundwater resources Waste canisters in lower 2,000 m Seals in upper 3,000 m 17

18 Deep Borehole Concept: Improving Scientific Understanding with a Field Experiment Several factors suggest the disposal concept is viable and safe: Crystalline basement rocks are common in many stable continental regions Existing drilling technology permits dependable construction at acceptable cost The DBH Field Test will: Demonstrate the feasibility of characterizing and engineering deep boreholes Demonstrate safe processes and operations for emplacement of small waste forms downhole 18

19 Deep Borehole Disposal Concept Aspects of Borehole Siting Potential site selection guidelines indicate that large areas with favorable geological characteristics exist in the U.S. Depth to Crystalline Basement from Perry et al. (2014) Regional Geology: A GIS Database for Alternative Host Rocks and Potential Siting Guidelines, FCRD-UFD

20 Deep Borehole Field Test Additional research and development is necessary in several important areas for further consideration of deep borehole disposal of radioactive waste The R&D objectives for deep borehole disposal are being met with a borehole field test that is conducted to a depth of 5 km in a representative location (without emplacement of radioactive wastes) Science thrust includes hydrogeological, geophysical, and geochemical investigations of deep borehole environment Engineering thrust includes drilling, canister testing, simulated waste handling, simulated waste emplacement operations, seals design and closure, and operational retrievability 20

21 Deep Borehole Disposal R&D Multiple factors indicate that the deep borehole disposal concept could provide an alternative to safe disposal of some radioactive waste Indication that there are widely available locations with favorable geological and hydrological characteristics Implementation of deep borehole disposal with a simple reference design and operations could be feasible, cost effective, and have sufficient capacity to accommodate smaller DOE managed wastes A deep borehole field test (without emplacement of radioactive wastes) is the next logical step in evaluating this waste disposal option Economic and scientific benefits of a deep borehole field test for local, tribal, state, and regional stakeholders could be valuable DOE is moving forward with the deep borehole field test 21