Guardian: New generation of nuclear reactors could consume radioactive waste as fuel [View all]

New generation of nuclear reactors could consume radioactive waste as fuel

A new generation of "fast" nuclear reactors could consume Britain's radioactive waste stockpile as fuel, providing enough low-carbon electricity to power the country for more than 500 years, according to figures confirmed by the chief scientific adviser to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc).


Britain's large stockpile of nuclear waste includes more than 100 tonnes of plutonium and 35,000 tonnes of depleted uranium. The plutonium in particular presents a security risk as a potential target for terrorists and will cost billions to dispose of safely. The government is currently considering options for disposing of or managing it.

The engineering firm GE Hitachi has submitted an alternative proposal based on their Prism fast reactor, which could consume the plutonium as fuel while generating electricity.


"It's a very elegant idea that we should try and use [the waste] as efficiently as possible. I definitely find it an attractive idea", said Prof David MacKay, Decc's chief scientific adviser.

Fast reactors are indeed a no-brainer IMHO. Killing two birds with one stone - getting rid of radioactive waste from traditional reactors permanently, and generate lots of carbon-free electricity at the same time. Finally is this elegant idea being considered, after billions wasted on geological storage "solutions". Nuclear "waste" is not really a waste, it is a very energetic and thus valuable fuel.

Related article by british environmentalist George Monbiot:
A Waste of Waste