Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

The importance of a closed fuel cycle in achieving sustainable and renewable nuclear energy in Iran

Document Type : Scientific Note

Authors

M. Ghorbani Ashraf 1
P. Hatami Barough 2

1 Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Energy, Sharif University of Technology, P.O.Box: 14588-89694, Tehran – Iran

2 Vice President of Nuclear Planning and Strategic Supervision, AEOI, P.O.Box: 14155-1339, Tehran – Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2024.1533.2000
Abstract
Energy security is one of the most important factors in the sustainable development of societies. Fulfillment of goals such as economic development, increasing social well-being, and improving the quality of life depend on providing energy and guaranteeing stable and reliable, clean, and affordable resources. In recent years, the use of renewable resources has received a lot of attention to diversify their energy portfolio, reduce the harmful effects on the environment, and achieve sustainable energy. From this point of view, with the proper establishment of the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear energy can be considered as renewable and sustainable energy in the energy portfolio and compensate for the lack of non-renewable energy in the future. The purpose of this paper is to explain the importance of a closed fuel cycle in achieving sustainable and renewable nuclear energy. Also, due to the not-very favorable situation of uranium and thorium resources in Iran, the lack of extensive international cooperation, the existence of sanctions in the provision of raw materials for nuclear fuel production, and the impossibility of guaranteeing the supply of fuel needed for nuclear energy production, the need to pay more attention to establishing a closed fuel cycle and using fast breeder reactors is proven. Paying attention to this important issue will achieve goals such as reducing the need for natural uranium, reducing the cost of nuclear waste, improving the efficiency of nuclear power plants, and producing materials required for the use of radiation in industry, medicine, and health.

Highlights

  1. Kabeyi M.J, Olanrewaju O.A. Sustainable energy transition for renewable and low carbon grid electricity generation and supply. Frontiers in Energy research. 2022 Mar 24;9:1032.

 

  1. Østergaard P.A, Duic N, Noorollahi Y, Mikulcic H, Kalogirou S. Sustainable development using renewable energy technology. Renewable energy. 2020 Feb 1;146:2430-7.

 

  1. Nuclear Energy Institute. https://www.nei.org.

 

  1. What is nuclear. https://whatisnuclear.com/blog/2020-10-28-nuclear-energy-is-longterm-sustainable.html/.

 

  1. Hore-Lacy I. In: Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century, 1st edition (Academic Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts). 2007;55-92.

 

  1. Yang M.S. Closing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle. Gen IV Webinar Series. 2016.

 

  1. Van den Eynde G, Trtilek R, Fritz L, Evans C, Mathonniere G, Van der Werf J, Lucibello P, Suzuki K, Sano T, Takeda S, Nam H.O. Strategies and Considerations for the Back End of the Fuel Cycle. Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. 2021.

 

  1. Word Nuclear Association. https://world-nuclear.org/information library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/china-nuclear-fuel-cycle.aspx.

 

  1. Banerjee S, Sinha R.K, Kailas S. Thorium utilization for sustainable supply of nuclear energy. InJournal of Physics: Conference Series. IOP Publishing. 2011 Sep 23;312(6).

 

  1. Bucher R.G. India's baseline plan for nuclear energy self-sufficiency. Argonne National Lab (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). 2009 Jan 1.

 

  1. LotusArise-Ultimate. https://lotusarise.com/indias-nuclear-programme-upsc.

 

  1. A Report of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO), Assessment of Nuclear Energy Systems Based on a Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle with Fast Reactors. (IAEA, Vienna, 2012).

 

  1. Word Nuclear Association. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/ countries-o-s/russia-nuclear-fuel-cycle.aspx.

 

  1. Word Nuclear Association. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/fast-neutron-reactor.

 

  1. Petrov A.Y, Shutikov A.V, Ponomarev-Stepnoy N.N, Bezzubtsev V.S, Bakanov M.V, Troyanov V.M. Prospects of creation of the two-component nuclear energy system. Nuclear Energy and Technology. 2019 Sep 25;5(3):265-271.

 

  1. International Atomic Energy Agency. https://cnpp.iaea.org/countryprofiles/IranIslamicRepublicof/IranIslamicRepublicof.htm.

 

  1. A Joint Report by the Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Uranium 2022 Resources, Production and Demand, (NEA, Paris, 2022).

 

  1. WISE Uranium Project. https://www.wise-uranium.org.

 

  1. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Radioactive Waste Management. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2006.

 

  1. Brown K.T. Basic information relating to uranium-enrichment calculations and fuel requirements for nuclear power reactors. Atomic Energy Board. 1977.

 

  1. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Potential Benefits and Impacts of Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles with Actinide Partitioning and Transmutation. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2011.

Keywords

Sustainable and renewable nuclear energy
Closed fuel cycle
Fast breeder reactors
  1. Kabeyi M.J, Olanrewaju O.A. Sustainable energy transition for renewable and low carbon grid electricity generation and supply. Frontiers in Energy research. 2022 Mar 24;9:1032.

 

  1. Østergaard P.A, Duic N, Noorollahi Y, Mikulcic H, Kalogirou S. Sustainable development using renewable energy technology. Renewable energy. 2020 Feb 1;146:2430-7.

 

  1. Nuclear Energy Institute. https://www.nei.org.

 

  1. What is nuclear. https://whatisnuclear.com/blog/2020-10-28-nuclear-energy-is-longterm-sustainable.html/.

 

  1. Hore-Lacy I. In: Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century, 1st edition (Academic Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts). 2007;55-92.

 

  1. Yang M.S. Closing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle. Gen IV Webinar Series. 2016.

 

  1. Van den Eynde G, Trtilek R, Fritz L, Evans C, Mathonniere G, Van der Werf J, Lucibello P, Suzuki K, Sano T, Takeda S, Nam H.O. Strategies and Considerations for the Back End of the Fuel Cycle. Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. 2021.

 

  1. Word Nuclear Association. https://world-nuclear.org/information library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/china-nuclear-fuel-cycle.aspx.

 

  1. Banerjee S, Sinha R.K, Kailas S. Thorium utilization for sustainable supply of nuclear energy. InJournal of Physics: Conference Series. IOP Publishing. 2011 Sep 23;312(6).

 

  1. Bucher R.G. India's baseline plan for nuclear energy self-sufficiency. Argonne National Lab (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). 2009 Jan 1.

 

  1. LotusArise-Ultimate. https://lotusarise.com/indias-nuclear-programme-upsc.

 

  1. A Report of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO), Assessment of Nuclear Energy Systems Based on a Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle with Fast Reactors. (IAEA, Vienna, 2012).

 

  1. Word Nuclear Association. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/ countries-o-s/russia-nuclear-fuel-cycle.aspx.

 

  1. Word Nuclear Association. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/fast-neutron-reactor.

 

  1. Petrov A.Y, Shutikov A.V, Ponomarev-Stepnoy N.N, Bezzubtsev V.S, Bakanov M.V, Troyanov V.M. Prospects of creation of the two-component nuclear energy system. Nuclear Energy and Technology. 2019 Sep 25;5(3):265-271.

 

  1. International Atomic Energy Agency. https://cnpp.iaea.org/countryprofiles/IranIslamicRepublicof/IranIslamicRepublicof.htm.

 

  1. A Joint Report by the Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Uranium 2022 Resources, Production and Demand, (NEA, Paris, 2022).

 

  1. WISE Uranium Project. https://www.wise-uranium.org.

 

  1. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Radioactive Waste Management. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2006.

 

  1. Brown K.T. Basic information relating to uranium-enrichment calculations and fuel requirements for nuclear power reactors. Atomic Energy Board. 1977.

 

  1. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Potential Benefits and Impacts of Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles with Actinide Partitioning and Transmutation. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2011.

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