Advanced Recycling: Benefits, Challenges and Next Steps

Transcription

1 Advanced Recycling: Benefits, Challenges and Next Steps William D. Magwood, IV Director-General Nuclear Energy Agency International Symposium on Present Status and Future Perspective for Reducing Radioactive Wastes 17 February Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

2 The NEA: A Forum for Cooperation Founded in member countries 7 standing technical committees 75 working parties and expert groups 21 international joint projects 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2

3 NEA Committee Structure The NEA's committees bring together top governmental officials and technical specialists from NEA member countries and strategic partners to solve difficult problems, establish best practices and to promote international collaboration Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 3

4 Major NEA Separately Funded Activities Secretariat-Serviced Organisations Generation IV International Forum (GIF) with the goal to improve sustainability (including effective fuel utilisation and minimisation of waste), economics, safety and reliability, proliferation resistance and physical protection. Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP) initiative by national safety authorities to leverage their resources and knowledge for new reactor design reviews. International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) forum for international discussion on wide array of nuclear topics involving both developed and emerging economies. 21 Major Joint Projects (Involving countries from within and beyond NEA membership) Nuclear safety research and experimental data (thermal-hydraulics, fuel behaviour, severe accidents). Nuclear safety databases (fire, commoncause failures). Nuclear science (thermodynamics of advanced fuels). Radioactive waste management (thermochemical database). Radiological protection (occupational exposure) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 4

5 Considerations of Carbon: It s all about energy production Source: IEA Energy use is responsible for about 70% of total, global GHG emissions. CO 2 constitutes 90% of total energy-related emissions. In the energy sector, CO 2 is exclusively generated by fossil fuels Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 5

6 Electricity Today: Still A Carbon Society Electricity Generation by Source (%), World and OECD Nuclear is the largest source of low carbon electricity in OECD countries Nuclear is the 2 nd largest low carbon power source globally (after hydro) ¾ of global electric power production today is based on fossil fuel 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 6

7 IEA 2 C Scenario: Nuclear is Required to Provide the Largest Contribution to Global Electricity in 2050 Source: Energy Technology Perspectives 2014 Source: IEA 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 7

8 2015 NEA/IEA Technology Roadmap Contents and Approaches Provides an overview of global nuclear energy today. Identifies key technological milestones and innovations that can support significant growth in nuclear energy. Identifies potential barriers to expanded nuclear development. Provides recommendations to policy-makers on how to reach milestones & address barriers. Case studies developed with experts to support recommendations Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 8

9 2015 NEA/IEA Technology Roadmap What Are the Barriers to Large Global Expansion? Distortions and failures in electricity markets that impact financial competitiveness of baseload plants Persistent questions about long-term operation of current plants and constructability of Gen III/Gen III+ plants Unanswered questions about technology, cost, and regulatory issues regarding SMRs, Gen IV reactors, and other advanced technologies In some countries, public acceptance concerns about safety in the aftermath of the Fukushima accident Continuing international concerns about non-proliferation associated with expanded use of civilian nuclear power Ongoing challenges in many countries regarding long-term high level waste storage and disposal 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 9

10 2015 NEA/IEA Technology Roadmap What Are the Major Barriers? Distortions and failures in electricity markets that impact financial competitiveness of baseload plants Persistent questions about long-term operation of current plants and constructability of Gen III/Gen III+ plants Unanswered questions about technology, cost, and regulatory issues regarding SMRs, Gen IV reactors, and other advanced technologies In some countries, public acceptance concerns about safety in the aftermath of the Fukushima accident Continuing international concerns about non-proliferation associated with expanded use of civilian nuclear power Ongoing challenges in many countries regarding long-term high level waste storage and disposal 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 10

11 Nuclear Waste and Nonproliferation: A Review of the Facts When civilian nuclear power was developed in the 1950s, recycling of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) was an integral aspect of the vison. While not ideal, plutonium from civilian SNF can be extracted for weapons purposes. But the global expansion of civilian nuclear power does not increase proliferation risks. Disposal of SNF in geologic repositories is practical and technically implementable. But direct disposal of SNF does not eliminate all potential proliferation concerns. Closure of the fuel cycle would assure that fissile material is never misused and is never allowed to enter the environment Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 11

12 Current Reprocessing Technology: Benefits and Barriers Potential Benefits Reduces HLW Volume Reduces actinide content of HLW Waste is easily stored and managed (vitrified logs) Enables use of 25 to 30% more energy than oncethrough fuel cycle Enhances energy security Barriers and Issues Concerns about separated plutonium Could encourage global expansion of reprocessing Concerns about environmental impacts Does not significantly reduce repository requirements Cost 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 12

13 Advanced Recycling Technology: Partitioning and Transmutation In contrast to current reprocessing technology, advanced P&T can: dramatically alter long-term HLW disposition by reducing radiotoxicity and heat load in addition to volume reduce the monitoring period of final repositories to timescales within human experience simplify long-term safety issues associated with final disposition (elimination of most actinides and potentially some long-lived fission products) create pathways for secure and easily monitored use of nuclear materials Multi-recycle of transuranics can lead to very high utilization of energy content of uranium fuel 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 13

14 Advanced Recycling Technology: Addressing the Barriers Enhanced Benefits Reduces HLW Volume and toxicity complete change in disposal requirements Enables use of 90% or more of energy contained in fuel resources Potentially more proliferation resistant than direct disposal Issues to be Addressed Still requires further R&D and commercial-scale demonstration Non-proliferation community remains largely opposed to any recycling Cost, commercialization, implementation all unproven 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 14

15 NEA Nuclear Science Committee: Continuing to Explore Advanced Fuel Cycles NEA Expert Groups: The Scientific Aspects of Advanced Fuel Cycles Minor Actinide Separation Fuel fabrication Minor Actinide burning in LWRs and advanced reactors Different options for transmutation: homogeneous, heterogeneous Recycling Waste management Transition scenarios 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 15

16 Highlighting the R&D Needs for the Future: Nuclear Innovation 2050 What technologies will be needed in 10 years? 30 years? 50 years? What research and development is needed to make these technologies available? Is the global community doing the R&D needed to prepare for the future? 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 16

17 SCOPE REACTOR FUEL/ FUEL CYCLE WASTE/ DECOM EMRGNG ENERGY SYSTEMS CROSS C 2015 (375GWe) 2050(930 Gwe) 2100 GENII LTO AGEING GENIII NEW BUILD GENIV SFR/LFR/SC GENIV VHTR/GFR/MSR SMR DEMO ATF AND FUEL EFFICIENCY FNR FUEL SMR/CPF AQUAEOUS/PYRO DECOMMISSIONING EXTEND STORE GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL FLEXIBILITY IN ELECTRICITY MA FUEL MULTI/P&T(ia ADS) WIDER APPLICATIONS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY Timeline is for technology readiness (for commercial deployment) 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

18 NEA NI 2050: Experts Meetings Begin in March Experts Meetings on Reactor Technology 2 to 4 March Subgroup 1: Evolutionary Water Cooled Reactors, large and SMRs (water cooled), Gen IV SCWR - Subgroup 2: Innovative/Advanced Systems: FNRs, ADS, (V)HTR, MSR, including SMRs Experts Meeting Fuels and Fuel Cycles 2 to 4 March Subgroup 1: Fuel and Fuel Cycle for Evolutionary Reactors - Subgroup 2: Fuel and Fuel Cycles for Innovative/Advanced Systems Experts Meeting Decommissioning and Waste Management 16 to 18 March Subgroup 1: Decommissioning - Subgroup 2: Waste Management, mainly high level waste, extended intermediate spent fuel storage, final (geological) disposal of spent fuel (as waste) and vitrified waste Experts Meeting Emerging Energy Systems 6 to 8 April Innovative Energy Systems (nuclear flexibility in evolving electricity systems, non-electricity applications, hybrid systems, etc.) 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 18

19 NI 2050 Process and timeline June 2015 LAUNCH WKSP ADV PANEL January 2016 Working MTG X Working MTG FINAL WKSP Dec 2016/ April 2017 Scoping paper 07 Prep. of Survey 09 Survey Road mapping Implementation 1 Scoping paper Report WKSP Survey Questionnaire Sent out Filling the Survey Survey Return Questionnaire Assemble and Analyse Survey Road mapping Summary Report Survey LAB SUMMIT NI 2050 ROADMAP Implementation Frameworks Frameworks for Cooperation X 2 Legal Models Financial Models Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 19

20 Concluding Thoughts There is likely no perfect fuel cycle technology. But realistic assessment of options show true benefits to advanced P&T A global approach would be beneficial. A multinational approach would build confidence and share costs. Multinational operation of advanced recycle facilities is one concept many support. More RD&D is needed to determine the most favorable path forward. But today, nuclear technology programs do not appear to be on pace to make these technologies available by NI 2050 will highlight priority R&D needs on a global basis. But decisions made in each country will be essential such as the future of vital R&D infrastructure Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 20

21 Thank you for your attention 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 21