Pershukov, and two co-authors, reported in early 2022 that there is a way to bring nuclear power into the category of “green” energy technologies; thus advertising its critical role in achieving the sustainable development goals adopted by the UN in 2015, and presents an option of nuclear power development based on a new technological platform (NTP) with two pillars: closed nuclear fuel cycle (CNFC), and fast reactors (FR).
Provisions are formulated to break through the skepticism of nuclear power opponents. The “PRORYV” (the Russian equivalent for “break-through”) project is focused on proving the industrial feasibility of the closed fuel cycle on-site of the NPP with fast reactor, thus giving the technological opportunity to establish nuclear energy systems environmentally friendly and free from the risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons. Such a nuclear energy system could contribute significantly in combating both looming energy crises and climate change.
The authors concluded that the closed nuclear fuel cycle with fast reactors has long been considered as a vital option towards the unlimited fuel resources for nuclear power deployment on a global scale. The transition to a “green” economy puts in focus nuclear radiowaste as an impediment to include nuclear in the list of sustainable energy sources. However, neutron excess available in fast reactors could be used for the transmutation of long-lived radiowastes as well.
This present paper provides an overview of the advantages of closing the nuclear fuel cycle with an example of a new technology platform that is a basis for strategic nuclear power development in Russia. It is exemplified by the lead cooled FR technology with a closed fuel cycle within the perimeter of a single NPP that is coming now at the stage of construction and commissioning in Russia. The latest IAEA Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Sustainability 2022, 14, 9339 9 of 10 Fuel Cycles: Sustainable Clean Energy for Future (FR22. 19–22 April 2022) [26] showed that a similar approach is being implemented in China and India at the high level of transition to industrialization.
It is worthwhile to mention that delegates and participants of the conference recommended to establish an Agency wide platform to promote the efforts on
closing nuclear fuel cycle with fast reactors in the IAEA, thus giving the opportunity for a number of countries to consider advanced wasteless nuclear energy systems as a way to their transition to a “green” economy.
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
