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DOE OSTI2017

A Summary of the Department of Energy's Advanced Demonstration and Test Reactor Options Study

An assessment of advanced reactor technology options was conducted to provide a sound comparative technical context for future decisions by the Department of Energy (DOE) concerning these technologies. Strategic objectives were established that span a wide variety of important missions and advanced reactor technology needs were identified based on recent Department of Energy and international studies. A broad team of stakeholders from industry, academia and government was assembled to develop a comprehensive set of goals, criteria and metrics to evaluate advanced irradiation test and demonstration reactor concepts. Point designs of a select number of concepts were commissioned to provide a deeper technical basis for evaluation. The technology options were compared on the bases of technical readiness and the ability to meet the different strategic objectives. Using the study’s evaluation criteria and metrics, an independent group of exerts from industry, universities and national labs scored each of the point designs. Pathways to deployment for concepts of varying technical maturity were estimated for the different demonstration systems with regard to cost, schedule and possible licensing approaches. Furthermore, this study also presents the tradeoffs that exist among the different irradiation test reactor options in terms of the ability to conduct irradiations in support of advanced reactor research and development (R&D) and to serve potential secondary missions.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Advanced Demonstration and Test Reactor Options Study

Global efforts to address climate change will require large-scale decarbonization of energy production in the United States and elsewhere. Nuclear power already provides 20% of electricity production in the United States (U.S.) and is increasing in countries undergoing rapid growth around the world. Because reliable, grid-stabilizing, low emission electricity generation, energy security, and energy resource diversity will be increasingly valued, nuclear power’s share of electricity production has a potential to grow. In addition, there are non electricity applications (e.g., process heat, desalination, hydrogen production) that could be better served by advanced nuclear systems. Thus, the timely development, demonstration, and commercialization of advanced nuclear reactors could diversify the nuclear technologies available and offer attractive technology options to expand the impact of nuclear energy for electricity generation and non-electricity missions. The purpose of this planning study is to provide transparent and defensible technology options for a test and/or demonstration reactor(s) to be built to support public policy, innovation and long term commercialization within the context of the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) broader commitment to pursuing an “all of the above” clean energy strategy and associated time lines. This planning study includes identification of the key features and timing needed for advanced test or demonstration reactors to support research, development, and technology demonstration leading to the commercialization of power plants built upon these advanced reactor platforms. This planning study is consistent with the Congressional language contained within the fiscal year 2015 appropriation that directed the DOE to conduct a planning study to evaluate “advanced reactor technology options, capabilities, and requirements within the context of national needs and public policy to support innovation in nuclear energy”. Advanced reactors are defined in this study as reactors that use coolants other than water. Advanced reactor technologies have the potential to expand the energy applications, enhance the competitiveness, and improve the sustainability of nuclear energy.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗