The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership John W. Herczeg U.S. Department of Energy

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The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership John W.
Herczeg U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Women in Nuclear The Westin Convention
Center Pittsburgh, Pa July 18, 2006
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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
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GNEP Has Two Simultaneous Goals
GNEP Principles

• Global Issues require global solutions

• Spent Fuel is an asset to be managed not a
  waste.

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Key Non-proliferation Element of GNEP is Fuel
Leasing
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Possible Fuel Leasing Configuration
Reactor
Partner State
Thermal Reactor
Fuel
Spent Fuel
Enriched Uranium
ORE
Separate
Recycle
Fast Reactor
Fuel
Fuel Cycle State
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US Technology Recycle Fast Reactors
GNEP Vision
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Reliable Fuel Service Partners

• Shared GNEP goals more nuclear energy, less
  proliferation
• Fuel Cycle Nations operate reactors fuel cycle
  facilities
• User Nations operate reactors, lease and return
  fuel
• IAEA safeguards fuel assurances

GNEP Vision
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GNEP Process Just Beginning
Countries Approached by U.S. to be possible Fuel
Cycle States
Japan active follow-up France active follow
-up Russia active follow - up United Kingdom
(In midst of Government Energy Study) China
(Follow-up being arranged)
40 Countries briefed at International Atomic
Energy Agency
Science Attaches briefed in DC
Detailed Discussion with Canada, South Korea
International Response Positive
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Proposed U.S. GNEP Technology Demonstration
Facilities
Available for Cooperative Research
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Progress

• U.S. Public Support
• Nuclear Power Plants orders getting closer
  (EPACT, NP2010)
• Potentially 25 new plants in the next 15 years in
  the U.S. (NRC estimate)
• 43 Expressions of Interest to host GNEP recycling
  demonstration projects
• Yucca Mountain
• Legislation submitted to Congress
• Congressional support for SNF recycling interim
  storage
• International Framework
• Fuel cycle nations share vision for secure
  sustainable nuclear energy
• Much agreement among major fuel cycle nations and
  the U.S. to
• Avoid the need to produce separated pure
  plutonium
• Transmute the transuranics to reduce the burden
  of eventual disposal
• Technical discussions ongoing to define potential
  RD partnerships
• Japan, Russia, France, UK, China

Progress Insights
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Progress

• Technology Maturity
• Possible to start now on GNEP
• Forty-year base of experience with liquid metal
  fast reactors and test reactors
• France, U.K., Japan and Russia have reprocessing
  (PUREX) facilities and experience
• Industry interest
• Technology Challenges for GNEP is transuranic
  recycle
• Separation, fuel fabrication, burning and recycle
  of transuranic fuel
• U.S. should focus on developing integrated
  recycling center
• Build Demonstrations
• Interim process storage needed to feed the
  recycle facility
• A sodium fast burner reactor
• Targeted advanced fuel cycle research
• Focus on gaps not solved or pursued by industry
  in transuranic recycle

Progress Insights
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Demonstrated Technologies Required RD
Chopping and
Uranium
LWR Spent Fuel
Product Conversion
Nitric Acid
UREX Process
Dissolution
Well understood demonstrated, fewissues
associated with scale-up
Technetium
TRU Fission Products
Decay Storage
Cs/Sr
U
O
CCD-PEG
3
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Cladding Hullsand Iodine
Powder
of Cs

Sr

Understood demonstrated at lab-scale/prototypic
environment
TRU

Remaining Fission Products
High-Level Waste Form (Vitrification)
Fission Products
TRUEX Process
Still significant RD, not well understood not
demonstrated at any scale
Advanced Burner Reactor
TRU Lanthanides
Lanthanides
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Product Conversion Packaging
TRU and Lanthanides Oxides
UREX 1
Nitric Acid Re-dissolution
U3O8 for fuel fabrication
TALSPEAK Process
Storage/Disposal of Remaining U3O8
Advanced Fuel Fabrication
TRU
Blending and
Product
Conversion
Progress Insights
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Summary

• GNEP vision - vibrant
• Making progress in addressing challenges
• International partnership more essential for
  technology path
• Success of US program more dependent on RD at
  foreign facilities in bypassing engineering demos
• Interest by Japan, France, Russia makes
  manageable
• Important to enlist partners in GNEP outside P-5
• Leverage the real political support for GNEP that
  outstrips the ability to implement the technology
  but helps define its mission

Path Forward
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Key U.S. Program Elements

• Expand nuclear power (NP2010)
• Manage minimize spent fuel (Yucca Mountain)
• Demonstrate recycle technology (UREX,
  Pyro)
• Demonstrate Advanced Burner Reactors
  (Sodium FSR)
• Establish reliable fuel services (Leasing,
  Backup)
• Demonstrate small, exportable reactors
  (Robust, Secure)
• Enhanced nuclear safeguards technology
  (Design Norms)

GNEP Vision
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Backup Material
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Different Current National Strategies
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Proposed GNEP Strategy for U.S.

• An Integrated Approach
• Domestic/International
• DOE NE/RW/SC/NA
• DOE Labs (9)
• Industry