Close Menu
  • Last News
    • Cities
    • Climate
    • Energy
    • Impact
    • Markets
    • Opinions
    • Policy
    • Reports
    • Research
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Trending
Illustration of a modular and sustainable tiny house concept.
“It’s Like a Tesla You Can Live In!”: LOVT Unveils Futuristic Tiny House That’s Modular, Eco-Friendly, and Ready to Disrupt Everything
Illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope capturing an image of exoplanet 14 Herculis c, generated by artificial intelligence.
“They Finally Saw It!”: James Webb Captures 14 Herculis c, the Mysterious Exoplanet Hidden in Darkness for Over Two Decades
Jaya Anand Singh
Jaya Anand Singh ’s Research Path : A Journey Through Science and Soil
Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube TikTok
Sustainability Times
Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube TikTok
Subscribe
  • Featured
  • Cities
    Illustration of Toronto's urban forest transformation with natural wetlands and diverse wildlife. Image generated by AI.

    Toronto’s Stunning Green Revolution Turns Canada’s Largest Metropolis Into a Vast Urban Forest Visible From Space

    July 1, 2025 at 4:01 PM
    Illustration of Downtown Residences skyscraper in Dubai's Business Bay area. Image generated by AI.

    “Tallest Home in the Sky”: Dubai’s 1,500-Foot Residential Tower Set to Shatter Records and Completely Transform the Urban Skyline

    June 14, 2025 at 4:11 PM
    Illustration of Egypt's ambitious Jirian urban development project featuring an artificial Nile canal. Image generated by AI.

    “Egypt’s Visionary Project Unveiled”: Skyscrapers Rising Amidst the Desert and Beside the Pyramids as Revolutionary New City Takes Shape

    June 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
    Illustration of Saudi Arabia's futuristic Line project stretching across the desert. Image generated by AI.

    “Saudi Mega-Skyscraper Turns Deadly”: This 105-Mile Structure Threatens to Annihilate Migratory Birds on a Catastrophic Scale

    June 10, 2025 at 10:10 AM
    Illustration of Archer Aviation's Midnight eVTOL air taxi flying over Los Angeles during the 2028 Olympics. Image generated by AI.

    Flying Over LA Gridlock: These American Air Taxis Promise a Spectacular Debut During the 2028 Olympic Games

    May 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
  • Climate
    Illustration of a modular and sustainable tiny house concept.

    “It’s Like a Tesla You Can Live In!”: LOVT Unveils Futuristic Tiny House That’s Modular, Eco-Friendly, and Ready to Disrupt Everything

    July 16, 2025 at 3:50 PM
    Illustration of the dismantling of dams along the Chishui River to restore aquatic biodiversity, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “They Blew Up 300 Dams to Save a River”: Massive Demolition Sparks the Largest Environmental Comeback Ever Attempted

    July 14, 2025 at 8:59 AM
    Illustration of Kenyan trees converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into stone, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “These Trees Turn CO2 Into Stone”: Amazed Scientists Hail Kenya’s One-of-a-Kind Forest as the Ultimate Breakthrough Against Climate Change

    July 12, 2025 at 3:55 PM
    Illustration of individuals attempting to cool down during a heatwave by drinking icy beverages, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “Scientists Warn Everyone Makes This Deadly Heat Mistake”: Proven Ineffective Cooling Habit Spreads Every Summer, Endangering Lives Across America

    July 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
    Illustration of the Birdhouse Modular tiny house design, highlighting its flexible and eco-friendly features, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “Modular Tiny House Totally Changed My Life”: Birdhouse’s Revolutionary Design Delivers Ultimate Flexibility and Style for Modern Small-Space Living

    July 10, 2025 at 9:47 AM
  • Energy
    Illustration of the Bell Textron SPRINT X-Plane in flight, showcasing advanced military aviation technology.

    “America Just Leveled Up”: Bell’s New 517 MPH Tiltrotor X-Plane Will Redefine War Machines and Leave Rivals in the Dust

    July 15, 2025 at 10:03 AM
    Illustration of an innovative glass coating designed to enhance energy efficiency, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “It’s Like Armoring Your Home”: Breakthrough Coating Transforms Ordinary Windows Into Powerful Energy-Saving Shield for Every Household

    July 14, 2025 at 9:55 AM
    Illustration of AgiBot's strategic acquisition move in the robotics and materials industries, generated by artificial intelligence.

    Total Shock in the Energy World: This Tesla Rival Just Moved to Take Over a Wind Blade Titan With Its Robot Army

    July 14, 2025 at 8:02 AM
    Illustration of a futuristic clay membrane technology extracting lithium from seawater, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “These Unbelievable Clay Membranes Are Pulling Lithium Fortunes Out of Thin Water,” Roars Shocked Scientist as Global Battery Race Goes Into Overdrive

    July 11, 2025 at 8:52 AM
    Illustration of the Blue Marlin, the world's first inland vessel using solar power for propulsion, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “This Solar Ship Is the Future of River Travel,” Declares Visionary Engineer as 192 Sun-Powered Panels Drive the World’s First Inland Marvel

    July 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM
  • Impact
    Illustration of an asteroid on a collision course with the Moon in 2032, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “It’s Going to Shatter the Moon!”: Scientists Brace for 2032 Asteroid Impact That Could Ignite Earth’s Skies with Apocalyptic Fury

    July 16, 2025 at 8:56 AM
    Illustration of Mark Zuckerberg's luxury yacht adventure in Norway's fjords, created by artificial intelligence.

    “He Spent Millions for a Single Thrill”: Zuckerberg Crosses 5,300 Miles on Twin Superyachts, Helicopters to a Peak, and Skis Down Like No One Else

    July 12, 2025 at 9:48 AM
    Illustration of the Streetwing flying car designed by Dezső Molnár for sustainable transportation, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “Flying Car Opened Up a Whole New World for Me”: Streetwing’s Daring Design Ignites the Next Chapter in Pure Personal Exploration

    July 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
    Illustration of a laser-based mosquito defense system neutralizing mosquitoes, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “Terrifying Death Ray Unleashed!”: China’s Laser Mosquito Defense System Annihilates 30 Bloodthirsty Pests Every Second, Astonishing Global Scientists

    July 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
    Illustration of the AIRCAT Bengal MC, the world's most advanced autonomous naval vessel. Image generated by AI.

    “We Just Changed Naval Warfare Forever”: US Unveils World’s Most Advanced Warship With Devastating 44-Ton Payload Capacity

    July 8, 2025 at 6:09 PM
  • Markets
    Illustration of a colossal 55 billion-ton iron ore deposit discovery in Western Australia. Image generated by AI.

    Worldwide Panic as Monumental Geological Find Disrupts Global Trade and Triggers Market Turmoil on Every Continent

    June 4, 2025 at 4:53 PM

    Most sources of protein in the US contain vast quantities of microplastics

    January 11, 2024 at 5:47 AM

    Banking on change: How your accounts have climate impact

    December 26, 2023 at 7:13 PM

    Sparxell’s glitter is golden with nature-based color, design

    December 19, 2023 at 9:29 PM

    Lab-grown coffee tastes pretty darn good, scientists say

    December 12, 2023 at 10:42 PM
  • Opinions
    Illustration of the theoretical comparison between Earth's habitability and Mars' colonization prospects, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “Elon, Mars Is a Hellhole”: Astrophysicist Slams Musk’s Vision, Says Even Nuclear Apocalypse Makes Earth a Safer Bet

    July 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
    Illustration of Millie, the 30-year-old tortoiseshell cat, enjoying a special cream cake on her birthday, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “Bottled Water Saved Her Life”: World’s Oldest Cat Millie Thrives at Age 30 by Drinking Only Premium Water, Stunning Veterinarians Everywhere

    July 12, 2025 at 5:57 PM
    Illustration of Mars colonization vision challenged by expert, highlighting Earth's superior habitability, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “Elon Musk, You’re Ignoring the Truth”: Astrophysicist’s Startling Claim—Earth Would Remain a Paradise Compared to Mars After Nuclear Apocalypse

    July 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM

    Smoke, Mirrors, and Smears: Inside the Campaign Against Gaurav Srivastava (Review)

    May 14, 2025 at 10:45 AM

    Nathan Law and the High Cost of Dissent: A Review of Targeted, Episode 3

    May 13, 2025 at 9:46 AM
  • Policy
    Illustration of China's colossal underground military command center near Beijing, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “These Images Will Keep You Awake at Night”: China’s Colossal Military Mega-Project Exposed as Satellite Photos Reveal a 1,200-Acre Fortress in the Making

    July 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
    Illustration of a legislative debate on banning octopus farming, highlighting environmental and ethical concerns, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “They’re Smarter Than Dogs!”: Furious North Carolina Bill Launches All-Out War on Octopus Farming, Leaving Shocked Families and Multimillion-Dollar Businesses in Chaos

    July 9, 2025 at 5:55 AM
    Illustration of the Canadian government's decision to freeze Tesla subsidies amid legal controversy. Image generated by AI.

    “We’re Not Paying a Cent”: Canada Freezes $40 Million in Aid and Declares War on Tesla’s Controversial Operations

    July 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
    Illustration of OpenAI's efforts in regulating AI for biological safety. Image generated by AI.

    “OpenAI Pulls Emergency Brake”: This Terrifying AI Showed Signs It Could Design Real-World Biological Weapons From Scratch

    July 1, 2025 at 6:10 AM
    Illustration of China's massive underground military command center near Beijing. Image generated by AI.

    “China Builds Largest Military Hub on Earth”: Satellite Images Expose 1,000-Acre Mega-Complex With Global Strategic Implications

    June 30, 2025 at 9:55 AM
  • Reports
    Illustration of the SABRE South Collaboration’s experimental setup for detecting dark matter in the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Scientists Stunned by Mysterious Light”: Bold Experiment Uses 4-Inch Glowing Crystal Core to Unveil Secrets of Elusive Dark Matter

    May 5, 2025 at 6:05 AM
    Illustration of a precision laser being fired from Earth to a satellite orbiting the Moon during daylight (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    China Hits the Moon With a Laser: First Daylight Lunar Reflection in History Stuns Scientists and Ignites Global Space Race

    May 4, 2025 at 5:09 PM
    Illustration of the SR-72 hypersonic jet soaring through the sky (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    “China Stunned by US Jet”: SR-72 Hypersonic Aircraft to Fly at Over Mach 5 in 2025, Triggering Shock and Panic in Beijing

    May 4, 2025 at 6:03 AM
    Illustration of China's expansive underground military command center near Beijing (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    China Unveils Its Military Mega-Project: Satellite Images Reveal Construction of the Largest Military Hub on Earth Spanning Over 1,000 Acres

    May 3, 2025 at 6:54 AM
    Illustration of China's new amphibious anti-tank missile system on the ZTD-05 vehicle (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    “China Unleashes Amphibious Beast”: This Armored Truck-Turned-Tank Can Now Hunt Enemy Targets Across Rivers and Swamps

    May 2, 2025 at 5:52 AM
  • Research
    Illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope capturing an image of exoplanet 14 Herculis c, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “They Finally Saw It!”: James Webb Captures 14 Herculis c, the Mysterious Exoplanet Hidden in Darkness for Over Two Decades

    July 16, 2025 at 10:13 AM
    Jaya Anand Singh

    Jaya Anand Singh ’s Research Path : A Journey Through Science and Soil

    July 16, 2025 at 9:48 AM
    Illustration of a tear-free sunion, a new variety of onion developed by Bayer, generated by artificial intelligence.

    “It Didn’t Burn My Eyes!”: Scientists Finally Create a Real Tear-Free Onion That Keeps All the Taste Without the Crying

    July 16, 2025 at 8:02 AM
    Illustration of the SynHG project envisioning the synthesis of a complete human genome, created by artificial intelligence.

    A Complete Human Genome Built from Scratch: This Unprecedented Scientific Feat Could Transform Everything We Know About Biology

    July 16, 2025 at 7:05 AM
    Illustration of the newly discovered color olo, visible through retinal stimulation with lasers, as an artificial illustration.

    “This Color Shouldn’t Exist”: Scientists Stunned by Mysterious New Hue ‘Olo’ That Defies Red, Blue, and Everything Known

    July 16, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Sustainability Times

Is an end to nuclear waste possible?

Hina DinooHina DinooMarch 24, 2021 at 11:00 AM0
Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Follow Us
Google News
(Photo: HFIR Refueling/Flickr)
Share
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Copy Link

The 2011 Fukushima disaster in the wake of a 9.0-magnitude earthquake has been an inflection point for nuclear power in the public mind, particularly in Europe. The events dealt a blow to the image of nuclear as a safe technology, and a decade on, its reputation is yet to recover – even as nuclear’s advantages in the fight against climate change are becoming increasingly obvious.

The European Union’s reluctance to include nuclear in its long-anticipated “taxonomy”, which determines how much financial support governments are allowed to provide for nuclear projects, is reflective of this. Lawmakers are unsure whether nuclear will be given a lifeline under the EU’s green finance regulations by classifying it a “transition fuel”, or whether it will be permanently ostracized as a form of energy that causes “significant harm” to the environment because of the radioactive waste it produces.

Nuclear waste is one of the main sticking points in the public discourse about the future of nuclear power. In Germany, for example, it has been a driving force behind the country’s nuclear phase-out. “Indeed, the biggest hurdle to public acceptance of nuclear energy is nuclear waste, which is used or spent fuel,” Koroush Shirvan, an expert on nuclear fuel cycles and professor at the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, tells Sustainability Times.

The international consensus is that highly radioactive waste should be stored in deep geological repositories, safely locking it away for many centuries. In Europe, “One geologic repository is currently under construction in Finland and another is nearing that stage in Sweden”, explains Prof. Shirvan. “Similarly in France, high level waste is being set aside for geologic disposal after the usable fuel forms (e.g. uranium and plutonium) are recovered and recycled from used fuel.”

Yet technological innovations based on closed fuel cycles mean that the amount and radiotoxicity of waste can be greatly reduced, and the current uranium resources be extended by a few thousand years. “A closed fuel cycle can reduce the volume of used fuel significantly, depending on the disposition strategy for heavier isotopes within the nuclear fuel,” elaborates Prof. Shirvan, meaning that “cost effective sustainability with nuclear energy can truly only be achieved with closing the fuel cycle.”

However, incentivizing the construction of the necessary infrastructure and absorbing additional costs for closing the fuel cycle requires a healthy nuclear industry growing at least 2.5 percent per year operating at scale, and an increase in uranium prices. That’s because “the economic benefits from closing the fuel cycle increase as nuclear energy programs expand.”

Professor Koroush Shirvan of MIT.

Considering that nuclear power use is expanding globally, with the OECD’s International Energy Agency predicting installed nuclear capacity to grow by over 15% between 2019 and 2040, demand for technologies to reduce nuclear waste will likely rise accordingly. A critical technology for doing so are fast neutron reactors (FNRs) designed to use fuel that consists of conventional fuel mixed with reprocessed spent fuel, called MOX.

“The spent fuel comes from water-cooled reactors that are the dominant technology across the world”, clarifies Prof. Shirvan. “By using spent fuel discharged from existing reactors, MOX fuel is able to reduce the needed mass of fuel and extend the current uranium reserves. As such, only countries with a significant number of NPPs would pursue a closed fuel cycle and MOX fuel fabrication.”

For example, France is a major MOX producer, and uses it in its water-cooled reactors, while China and Japan are working towards MOX commercialisation. Russia’s Rosatom, the world’s biggest nuclear vendor, is currently the only company operating several FNRs commercially (theBN-600 and BN-800), and preparing construction of another one, the BN-1200M. These FNRs are sodium-cooled, where MOX is considered as a fuel.

Meanwhile, R&D on FNRs and their use in achieving closed fuel cycles is progressing rapidly. Rosatom is also currently building a fast reactor prototype for a closed fuel cycle at the Pilot Demonstration Energy Complex (PDEC) in Seversk. The Brest-OD-300 power unit recently received a construction license, making it the world’s first experimental demonstration power unit employing a lead-cooled fast neutron reactor, with fuel loading scheduled for 2023.

While various sodium-cooled fast reactors have been developed by the US, France Japan and the USSR-Russia, Prof. Shirvan points out that the use of liquid lead as a coolant has several advantages: “Lead has been mastered by Russia, originally for their nuclear submarines and chosen for the Brest demo. The main advantages of lead over sodium are its high boiling point which allows it to operate at higher temperatures, and chemical inertness in interacting with air or water, which means there’s no chance of fire.”

Another example is the EU-sponsored MYRRHA facility to be built in Belgium. It will include both an accelerator driven system and a lead-cooled test FNR, enabling research on high-level nuclear waste treatment. Its commissioning is scheduled for 2034.

According to the MIT professor, fast reactor technology “lends itself well to both burning the geologically unattractive radioactive material for eventual disposal, and breeding new useful nuclear fuel.” Both are functions that represent milestones for the nuclear industry and are game changers for development and deployment. As was noted by Stefano Monti of the IAEA’s Fast Reactor Technology Development Section back in 2013, FNR technology can help in “reducing the amount and toxicity of radioactive waste, as well as the heat emanating from the waste, and also shortening the waste’s hazardous lifetime span.”

This makes a compelling case for nuclear’s future use by effectively addressing one of the most enduring arguments put forward by nuclear skeptics. And the fact that FNRs can create more fissile material than they consume makes them not only highly efficient but promises to make nuclear energy production truly sustainable once commercial operations begin at scale.

In light of the benefits, these technological advancements could trigger a rethinking about nuclear power in Europe down the line, especially as pressure rises on the EU to deliver results on its promises to become climate-neutral by 2050. This view is broadly shared by Prof. Shirvan, who is confident that nuclear power will be regarded a renewable energy source in the nearer future: “With access to more information and with the wrong connotation of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons fading away, it’s reasonable to forecast that by 2050, nuclear energy – alongside other renewable energy sources – will be gaining public support in the USA.”

Yet this requires concerted support for R&D in the sector, not only in the US but globally: “This time scale highly depends on the government initiatives and degree of trust the public has in that government. Therefore, it is likely that many countries will come to this realization earlier than 2050.” Considering the encouraging progress in FNR development, the EU may already have found the solution to its nuclear waste problem. But even if EU lawmakers choose to permanently shun nuclear, the idea that it can become a fully sustainable form of energy is within reach.

Did you like it? 4.6/5 (26)

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Climate Change Nuclear Energy Power Use
Follow on Google News Follow on X (Twitter)
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Previous ArticleEuropean food giants Danone and Nestlé focus on greener business practices
Next Article Climate change is driving tropical species further north in the southern U.S.
Hina Dinoo
  • X (Twitter)

Hina Dinoo is a Toronto-based journalist at Sustainability Times, covering the intersection of science, economics, and environmental change. With a degree from Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, she translates complexity into clarity. Her work focuses on how systems — ecological, financial, and social — shape our sustainable future. Contact: [email protected]

Keep Reading
Illustration of the Bell Textron SPRINT X-Plane in flight, showcasing advanced military aviation technology.

“America Just Leveled Up”: Bell’s New 517 MPH Tiltrotor X-Plane Will Redefine War Machines and Leave Rivals in the Dust

Illustration of an innovative glass coating designed to enhance energy efficiency, generated by artificial intelligence.

“It’s Like Armoring Your Home”: Breakthrough Coating Transforms Ordinary Windows Into Powerful Energy-Saving Shield for Every Household

Illustration of AgiBot's strategic acquisition move in the robotics and materials industries, generated by artificial intelligence.

Total Shock in the Energy World: This Tesla Rival Just Moved to Take Over a Wind Blade Titan With Its Robot Army

Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Trending
Illustration of a modular and sustainable tiny house concept.
“It’s Like a Tesla You Can Live In!”: LOVT Unveils Futuristic Tiny House That’s Modular, Eco-Friendly, and Ready to Disrupt Everything
Illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope capturing an image of exoplanet 14 Herculis c, generated by artificial intelligence.
“They Finally Saw It!”: James Webb Captures 14 Herculis c, the Mysterious Exoplanet Hidden in Darkness for Over Two Decades
Jaya Anand Singh
Jaya Anand Singh ’s Research Path : A Journey Through Science and Soil
News by category
  • Featured
  • Cities
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Impact
  • Markets
  • Opinions
  • Policy
  • Reports
  • Research
Information
  • About Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Legal Mentions
  • Privacy Policy

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube TikTok
© Sustainability-Times.com. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.