IAEA-TECDOC-1639 Rev.1 Assessment of Nuclear Energy Systems Based on a Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle with Fast Reactors A Report of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) (Companion CD-ROM) EDITORIAL NOTE This CD-ROM has been prepared from the original material as submitted by contributors. Neither the IAEA nor its Member States assume any responsibility for the information contained on this CD-ROM. The use of particular designations of countries or territories does not imply any judgement by the publisher, The IAEA, as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries. The mention of names of specific companies or products (whether or not indicated as registered) does not imply any intention to infringe proprietary rights, nor should it be construed as an endorsement or recommendation on the part of the IAEA. FOREWORD A Joint Study was started in 2005 and completed in 2007 within the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO). Canada, China, France, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine participated in this study. The objectives were to assess a nuclear energy system based on a closed fuel cycle (CNFC) with fast reactors (FR) regarding its sustainability, determine milestones for the nuclear energy system deployment, and establish frameworks for, and areas of, collaborative R&D work. The assessment was carried out in accordance with requirements of INPRO methodology and guiding documents of the Joint Study developed and approved by the participating parties (Canada and Ukraine participated in the discussions during the Joint Study but did not contribute to the assessments themselves). The Joint Study was implemented in steps. In its first step, nominated experts in course of extensive discussions analyzed the country/region/world context data, discussed national and global scenarios of introduction of the INS CNFC-FR, identified technologies suitable for the INS, and arrived at a broad definition of a common INS CNFC-FR. In the second step, the participants of the study examined characteristics of INS CNFC-FR for compliance with criteria of sustainability developed in the INPRO methodology in the domain of economics, safety, environment, waste management, proliferation resistance, physical protection and infrastructure. The results of the study were submitted to and endorsed by the INPRO Steering Committee meetings held in Vienna 2005−2007. The authors of the report highly appreciate the valuable comments provided by delegates of INPRO Steering Committee meetings as well as the advice and assistance of the other experts. Due to the length of the Joint Study report a summary of the results was produced, which was published as a hard copy. The full text of the Joint Study report is available on this CD-ROM. The IAEA officer responsible for this publication was R. Beatty of the Division of Nuclear Power, Department of Nuclear Energy. CONTENTS SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW OF THE ASSESSMENT RESULTS ........................................ 6 1.1. Scope of designs and technologies under consideration ......................................... 6 1.2. Multidimensional assessment of the INS ................................................................ 7 1.2.1. Safety ............................................................................................................. 7 1.2.2. Environment and resource sustainability ....................................................... 8 1.2.3. Waste management ........................................................................................ 9 1.2.4. Proliferation resistance ................................................................................. 10 1.2.5. Infrastructure ................................................................................................ 11 1.2.6. Economics .................................................................................................... 12 1.3. Overall judgment ................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 2. OUTLINE OF THE JOINT STUDY ............................................................. 15 2.1. Position of the Joint Study in INPRO ................................................................... 15 2.2. Main objectives ..................................................................................................... 16 2.3. Organizational features and management of the project ....................................... 16 2.4. Development of the INS CNFC-FR ...................................................................... 19 2.5. Global energy scenarios ........................................................................................ 19 2.6. National nuclear scenarios ..................................................................................... 20 2.7. Objectives accomplished ....................................................................................... 22 2.7.1. Consolidation of outlooks ............................................................................ 22 2.7.2. Identification of a reference CNFC−FR for the INPRO assessment ........... 22 2.7.3. Assessment of the INS CNFC−FR .............................................................. 22 2.7.4. Identification of collaborative R&D work and priorities for possible cooperation ..................................................................................... 24 2.8. Objectives partly accomplished and not accomplished ......................................... 26 2.9. Feedback to the methodology improvement ......................................................... 27 2.9.1. INPRO methodology as a step in developing a comprehensive instrument for INS assessment..................................................................... 27 2.9.2. Identified ways for the methodology improvement ..................................... 27 2.10. Added value ................................................................................................. 29 CHAPTER 3. NATIONAL NUCLEAR SCENARIOS ........................................................ 30 3.1. China ..................................................................................................................... 30 3.1.1. Brief history and current status of the fast reactor technology development .............................................................................. 30 3.1.2. Incentives and boundary conditions for the future deployment of INS CNFC-FR ......................................................................................... 31 3.1.3. National planning of capacities and structure of energy sector ................... 34 3.1.4. The optimistic and moderate scenarios for development of the CNFC with fast reactors............................................................................... 35 3.1.5. National approach to identifying fast reactors designs and relevant fuel cycles ...................................................................................... 36 3.2. France .................................................................................................................... 40 3.2.1. National strategies and scenarios for development of a closed fuel cycle with fast reactors (CNFC−FR) ......................................... 40 3.2.3. The transition scenario from present PWRs to fast reactors in France ........ 48 3.2.4. Main trends of R&D efforts for fast reactor development in France ........... 50 3.3. India ....................................................................................................................... 53 3.3.1. Planning of capacities and structure of nuclear power sector ...................... 53 3.3.2. Brief history and current status of fast reactor technology development .... 54 3.3.1. Incentives and boundary conditions for future deployment of INS ............. 56 3.3.4. Scenarios for deployment of a closed nuclear fuel cycle with FBR ............ 57 3.3.5. Fast reactor design approach with a closed fuel cycle ................................. 58 3.4. Japan ...................................................................................................................... 62 3.4.1. Brief history and current status of fast reactor technology development .... 62 3.4.2. Incentives and boundary conditions for the future deployment of INS CNFC−FR ........................................................................................ 63 3.4.3. National planning of capacities and structure of energy sector with determination of share of nuclear power and fast reactor .................... 66 3.4.4. Optimistic and moderate scenario for development of a closed nuclear cycle with fast reactors ......................................................... 67 3.4.5. National approach identifying fast reactors designs and relevant fuel cycles ...................................................................................... 69 3.5. Republic of Korea ................................................................................................. 72 3.5.1. National planning of capacities and structure of energy sector with determination of the share of nuclear power and fast reactors .................... 72 3.5.2. Brief history and