Preliminary Evaluation of a Nuclear Scenario Involving Innovative Gas Cooled Reactors

In order to guarantee a sustainable supply of future energy demandwithout compromising the environment, some actions for asubstantial reduction of CO2 emissions are nowadays deeply analysed. One of them isthe improvement of the nuclear energy use. In this framework,innovative gas-cooled reactors (both thermal and fast) seem to bevery attractive from the electricity production point of view andfor the potential industrial use along the high temperatureprocesses (e.g., H2 production by steam reforming or I-S process). Thiswork focuses on a preliminary (and conservative) evaluation ofpossible advantages that a symbiotic cycle (EPR-PBMR-GCFR) couldentail, with special regard to the reduction of the HLW inventoryand the optimization of the exploitation of the fuel resources. The comparison between the symbiotic cycle chosen and thereference one (once-through scenario, i.e., EPR-SNF directlydisposed) shows a reduction of the time needed to reach a fixedreference level from∼170000 years to∼1550 years(comparable with typical human times and for this reason moreacceptable by the public opinion). In addition, this cycle enablesto have a more efficient use of resources involved: the totalelectric energy produced becomes equal to∼630 TWh/year(instead of only∼530 TWh/yearusing only EPR) without consuming additional raw materials