Expressions of Interest Consolidated Fuel Treatment Center Advanced Burner Reactor

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The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
John F. Gross U.S. Department of Energy Office o
f Nuclear Energy
November 15, 2006
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Topics

• Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)
• GNEP June 2006
• GNEP September 2006
• EOIs/FOAs
• Budget
• FY07 Presidential Request
• Funding Objectives
• Landscape

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What is GNEP?
This morning, I want to speak to you about one
part of this initiative our plans to expand the
use of safe and clean nuclear power. Nuclear
power generates large amounts of low-cost
electricity without emitting air pollution or
greenhouse gases.
...my Administration has announced a bold new
proposal called the Global Nuclear Energy
Partnership. Under this partnership, America will
work with nations that have advanced civilian
nuclear energy programs, such as France, Japan,
and Russia. Together, we will develop and deploy
innovative, advanced reactors and new methods to
recycle spent nuclear fuel. This will allow us to
produce more energy, while dramatically reducing
the amount of nuclear waste and eliminating the
nuclear byproducts that unstable regimes or
terrorists could use to make weapons.
President George W. Bush Radio Address February
18, 2006
GNEP is a Presidential Initiative given to DOE to
execute
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GNEP Has Two Main Goals
GNEP Principles
Global Issues require global solutions
Spent Fuel is an asset to be managed not a
waste.
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Key U.S. Program Elements
Expand nuclear power (NP2010)
Manage minimize spent fuel (Yucca
Mountain) Advanced Recycle Technology (
UREX, Pyro) Advanced Burner Reactors
(Sodium FSR)
Establish reliable fuel services (Leasing,
Backup) Demonstrate small, exportable reactors
(Robust, Secure) Enhanced nuclear safe
guards technology (Design Norms)
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Key Non-Proliferation Goal is Fuel Leasing
GNEP Fuel Leasing Principles
Encourage expansion of nuclear power
Should make commercial sense
Consistent with Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
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Global Nuclear Energy Partnership - Today

• The GNEP goals and vision are unchanged
• Two of the GNEP major system projects have
  evolved
  
• Engineering Scale Demonstration (ESD) has evolved
  to a larger scale Consolidated Fuel Treatment
  Center (CFTC)
  
• Advanced Burner Test Reactor (ABTR) size has
  increased to a commercial scale prototype
  Advanced Burner Reactor (ABR)
  
• Advanced Fuel Cycle Facility (AFCF) is unchanged
• Two parallel but highly integrated tracks
• Industry led track to design/construct the
  prototype facilities (ABR and CFTC)
  
• National Lab track to conduct near-term
  technology development and longer term RD to
  regain US technology leadership and global
  competitiveness

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GNEP Dual Track Strategy June 2006

• Confirmation that industry may be able to move
  ahead without demonstration facilities
  
• Built on existing proven capabilities of the fuel
  cycle nations
  
• Operate advanced spent fuel treatment/recycle
  technologies in the U.S. as early as possible
  
• Use industrial partners
• Use international experience
• Use U.S. technology base enhanced by
  international collaborative applied research and
  development with National Laboratory focus on
  group transuranic separation and transmutation
  fuel
• Technology Development Strategy
• Commercial-scale Consolidated Fuel Treatment
  Center (CFTC)
  
• Commercial-scale Advanced Burner Reactor (ABR)
• Advanced Fuel Cycle Facility (AFCF) --World-class
  RD facility
  
• Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from
  Industry
  
• Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for site
  evaluation studies

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Expressions of Interest from Industry Informed
the Budget Formulation

• Federal and national laboratory staff reviewed
  EOIs
  
• Eight descriptions of CFTC or ABR approaches
• Industry and international partners supportive of
  GNEP and anxious to participate
  
• CFTC technology solvent extraction,
  pyroprocessing, aqueous reprocessing
  
• ABR technology sodium-cooled fast reactor
• Generally agreed with 2020 2025 timeframe
• CFTC EOIs
• Support for commercial-scale recycling of SNF
  (Only two EOIs expressed interest in
  smaller-scale, 20-40MT short-term demonstration)
  
• Demonstrated understanding of footprint, support
  systems, and infrastructure requirements
  
• Provided insight into cost sharing and business
  models
  
• ABR EOIs
• Endorsed sodium fast reactors as the preferred
  technology
  
• Assumed licensing by NRC
• Oxide or metal fuel

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Evolution of GNEP Dual Track Strategy September
2006

• Expressions of Interest from industry and
  international partners confirmed viability of
  Dual Track strategy
  
• Potential industrial/international partners and
  sites identified for further discussion and
  strategy refinement
  
• Public and private entities want to host one or
  both commercial-scale facilities
  
• Recognized the importance of longer-term RD to
  further develop the fuel cycle and support
  industry
  
• FY07 Presidential Budget Request to Congress
  reallocated
  
• FY08 OMB budget request revised to reflect
  assessment of EOIs

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The Dual-Track Strategy Allows us to Influence
International Recycling Facility Technology
Commercial-scale Consolidated Fuel Treatment
Center and Advanced Burner Reactor vs.
Engineering-scale Demonstration
Conceptual Design
Preliminary and Final Design
Construction
Startup
SNF Separations
CFTC
Concept. Design
Preliminary and Final Design
Construction
Startup
ABR
Concept. Design
Preliminary and Final Design
Construction
Startup
LTA Development
AFCF
2021
2022
2018
2020
2019
2006
2008
2012
2014
2016
2017
2010
2011
2013
2009
2007
2015
CFTC
ABR
AFCF
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GNEP Consolidated Fuel Center Deployment

• Involve U.S. National Laboratories, international
  research community, and industry in technology
  development and RD to resolve key issues and to
  further develop fuel cycle technologies

Enlist industry to build facilities to USG specs
with National Laboratory support
Process SNF into acceptable disposable waste
forms and transuranics/lanthanides
Use Transuranics/Lanthanides in fast reactor fuel
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Funding Opportunity Announcements Site Studies

• Significant interest in hosting one or both
  commercial-scale operations
  
• 14 grant applications received
• 9 states involved
• 8 proposed DOE sites
• 6 proposed non-DOE sites
• Total amount for grants is 20M, to be awarded by
  November 2006

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Landscape

• Industry is able to implement present generation
  of recycling technology to
  
• Move ahead with technology development identified
  by AFCI to support design and construction as
  options are explored for business model
  
• Move as rapidly as practical to construct
  commercial-scale facilities to close the fuel
  cycle with recycling and fast reactor transuranic
  burning
• Need to provide long-term commitment to next
  generation nuclear fuel cycle technology while
  moving ahead with present generation technology
  to
• Revitalize U.S industry and National Laboratory
  infrastructure
  
• Move U.S. toward a stronger international
  leadership position
  
• Increase the venue for international
  collaboration
  
• Following a balanced Dual Track strategy reduces
  risk