6 Aug (NucNet): Funding for some Generation IV reactor systems – particularly gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR) systems – has decreased and progress has slowed, the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) annual report says.
The report says countries involved in GFR research are discussing ways to continue R&D, possibly through synergies with other systems.
GFR R&D did not make much progress in 2014, in part due to “significantly decreased budgets supporting the system”, the report says.
GIF chairman John Kelly said progress had been made in 2014 on five of the six Generation IV reactor systems being considered by GIF. He said progress had also been made on “the implementation of evaluation methodologies” and on “a new course of outreach” with the international regulatory community that will eventually licence Generation IV reactors.
In April 2015, France’s Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) said the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) system is the only one of six nuclear systems being considered by GIF that has reached a degree of maturity compatible with the construction of a prototype during the first half of the 21st century.
GIF was created in January 2000 by nine countries and today has 13 members. In 2002, GIF selected six systems from nearly 100 concepts as Generation IV technologies.
GIF said earlier this year that for real long-term progress to be made in Generation IV development, advanced research facilities need to be built, the industry must become more involved, and the “workforce of the future” should be developed.
The six Generation IV systems are sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFR); gas-cooled fast reactors (GFR); very high temperature reactors with thermal neutron spectrum (VHTR); lead-cooled fast reactors or lead-bismuth eutectic cooled fast reactors (LFR); molten salt reactors (MSR) with fast or thermal neutron spectrum; and supercritical water reactors (SCWR) with fast or thermal neutron spectrum.
The annual report is online: http://bit.ly/1HdlrCZ
