Disposal Capacity for Spent Fuel in China Is Not Ready Yet for the Nuclear Power Boom

摘要: A nuclear power currently contributes to merely 2.1% of the electricity generation in China, fast growth industry is expected near future meet soaring energy demand highly industrialized coastal regions without exacerbating environmental problems. Unlike several countries (Germany, Switzerland, and Spain) that have adopted thepolicy phase-out after Fukushimanuclear accident, China remains committed expansion power, driven largely by pressure reduce widespread air pollution brought coal-fired generation.With imminent restart new projects regions, a boom upcoming inChina. AlthoughChina has become self-sufficient design engineering reactors, recycling spent fuel final disposal highlevel radioactive waste weakest link its chain. We believe it urgent accelerate country’s development commercial reprocessing capacity for permanent geological storage high-level waste. 22 operating reactors with total installed slightly over 19GW(Figure 1).With another 26 under construction, rise 46 GW 2019. The official agenda generating used be 70−80, 200, 400−500 2020, 2030, 2050, respectively. Due safety concerns Fukushima moratorium on construction been imposed. While remaining target 2020 revised 58GW 30GW construction. In addition those 12 more need built before this goal. It widely believed areas would restarted year. So far 30 equal number inland planned, 80 proposed (Figure 1). Management significant sociotechnical challenge not fully resolved even developed half century’s experience power. After working 3−7 years, rods are no longer efficient at due accumulation fission products, only∼3% their uranium up. contains unconverted (95−96%), plutonium (1%), other actinides (0.1%), products (3−4%). shortlived (e.g., I Ba) main sources high short-term radioactivity, rods, beingmoved out usually cooled shielded water-filled basins years or longer. Once they thermally cool enough less radioactive, can reprocessed ormoved todry-storage facilities. Decay medium half-lives (Cs Sr) accounts most radioactivity next hundred while primarily responsible long-term (10−10 years). general, operation large (1 GW) reactor, typical lifespan 60 produces 25−30 tonnes annually. Even based rather conservative estimation, accumulate 12,000 2020. Development still relatively early stage China. Through recovering from substantially reduces waste’s volume (>90%) radioactivity. As composed shortand medium-lived takes hundreds decrease safe levels. pilot-scale plant completed hot commissioning 2010, indicating major breakthrough technology There plans two plants capacities 400 800−1000 tonnes/year indigenous and/or proven French later, but broken ground yet economics, safety, technological maturity.