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Development of small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors: implications for the management of higher activity wastes and spent fuel [new paper from  UK Committee on Radioactive Waste Managemen [CoRWM]

A new paper from the UK Committee on Radioactive Waste Management says that the issue of managing the used fuel and radioactive waste from these small modular reactors “appears, with some exceptions … to have been largely ignored or at least downplayed up to now”. It adds that the issue “must be considered when selecting technologies for investment, further development, construction and operation”.

There is considerable interest in the development of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) designs and their commercial deployment, both for energy security and net zero, particularly given the historic difficulties of deploying reactors at gigawatt (GW) scale.

The management of spent fuel and radioactive waste from these new reactors must also be considered when selecting technologies for investment, further development, construction and operation.

This CoRWM position paper provides recommendations to the UK Government, Great British Nuclear, and Nuclear Waste Services and regulators to consider as SMR and AMR deployment is progressed.

The paper is posted at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/development-of-small-modular-reactors-smrs-and-advanced-modular-reactors-amrs-corwm-position-paper 

PDF, 539 KB, 42 pages

February 15, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized