Spent Fuel Management & Spent Fuel Storage in the USA

ISSF 2010 – Session 1Komae, Japan

November 15, 2010,

Albert MachielsS i T h i l E tiSenior Technical Executive

Topics

1. Spent Fuel ManagementManaging Interim Storage –A Global Business

2. Spent Fuel Storage in the USAp gExtended Interim StorageBlue Ribbon CommissionBlue Ribbon CommissionMIT Report on “The Future of the N l F l C l ”Nuclear Fuel Cycle”

3. Summary

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LWR Power Block

Managed StorageManaged Storage

TODAY

Geologic Repository

FR Power Block

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LWR Power Block

Managed StorageManaged Storage

Geologic Repository???

FR Power Block

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Interim Storage Options

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Managed Storage – Dry Storage in the US

Over 1300 Casks Loaded in the US

Located at 50 Plant Sites

25% f US S t F l I t~25% of US Spent Fuel Inventory

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LWR Power Block

Managed StorageManaged Storage

TodayToday

Geologic Repository

FR Power Block

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Blue Ribbon Commission

• 15 members• Three subcommittees

– Reactor and Fuel Cycle Technology– Transportation and Storage– Disposal

• Draft report due July 2011• Final report due January 2012

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Update of the MIT 2003 “Future of Nuclear Power” (May 2009)Power (May 2009)

Key Message“The sober warning is that ifThe sober warning is that if more is not done, nuclear power will diminish as a practical and ptimely option for deployment at a scale that would constitute a material contribution to climatematerial contribution to climate change risk mitigation”

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MIT 2010 “The Future of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle” (September 2010)(September 2010)

Findingg

Managed storage can be done safely at operating sites, centralized storage f iliti l i l it ifacilities, or geological repositories designed for retrievability.

Recommendation

Planning for long-term managed storage of spent nuclear fuel – for about a century – should be an integral part of nuclear fuel design. While managed g gstorage is believed to be safe for these periods, an R&D program should be devoted to confirm and extend the safe

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devoted to confirm and extend the safe storage and transport period.

Summary

• Interim storage of spent fuel• Interim storage of spent fuel– Key element of the nuclear fuel cycle

Provides flexibility– Provides flexibility– Technological benefits: decay of heat-generating

nuclidesnuclides• US Experience

Risk information and operational performance– Risk information and operational performance– Potential “hot-button” issue with public

• Tangible (and lasting) progress toward a permanent• Tangible (and lasting) progress toward a permanent disposal path is required to overcome the main societal obstacle to wide acceptance of nuclear

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energy

References

• EPRI 1020307 “Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles – MainEPRI 1020307 Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles Main Challenges and Strategic Options”– http://my.epri.com/portal/server.pt?Abstract_id=0000000000010203

• MIT’s “Update to MIT 2003 Future of Nuclear Power”– http://web.mit.edu/nuclearpower/pdf/nuclearpower-update2009.pdf

MIT’ “Th F f h N l F l C l ”• MIT’s “The Future of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle”– http://web.mit.edu/mitei/docs/spotlights/nuclear-fuel-cycle.pdf

• Blue Ribbon Commission• Blue Ribbon Commission– http://brc.gov

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