Euradwaste '08 - EU Bookshop - Europa

EUROTRANS focuses on the transmutation (nuclear conversion) of long-lived and/or toxic radionuclides
found in nuclear waste, such as plutonium and the minor actinides, into short-lived or stable elements, and
will initiate work on a European Transmutation Demonstration (ETD) based on the use of accelerator
driven systems. It will carry out a first advanced design of a 50-100 MWth experimental facility to demonstrate
the technical feasibility of transmutation in an Accelerator Driven System (XT-ADS), and produce a
generic conceptual design (several 100 MWth) of a modular European Facility for Industrial Transmutation
(EFIT). Both designs will bear the same fundamental system characteristics in order to allow scalability
between XT-ADS and EFIT. A substantial amount of experimental and theoretical work will be carried
out, including the coupling of an accelerator, a spallation target and a subcritical blanket. Specific work is
devoted to the development of key accelerator components, dedicated fuels, heavy liquid metal (HLM)
technologies and basic nuclear data.
ACTINET-6 is encouraging sustainable integration of European research on the physics and chemistry of
actinides. The goals are, more specifically, to co-ordinate the use of the major actinide research facilities
within the European scientific community, improve human mobility between member institutions (in particular
between academic institutions and national laboratories) and to promote excellence through a process
of selecting R&D projects and support for training activities. ACTINET-6 has a broad participation of
research organisations and academic institutions with expertise in actinides science, as well as effective
links with the user community.
2.3 FP7 and the future
RWM remains a priority research area in the latest Euratom programme – FP7 (2007-2011 [4]).
However, unlike previous Euratom FPs, there are no ring-fenced budgets for the various priority
areas. This is in order to maximise flexibility in programme implementation and ensure that the
limited funds are allocated as effectively as possible. In particular, since some FP6 projects are still
in progress, including in RWM, it was important not to earmark FP7 funding without having a clear
idea of the results from these projects and where there may be a need for continued EU support.
The Euratom FP7 Specific Programme for nuclear research and training activities, approved unanimously
by the EU Member States towards the end of 2006, has this to say on the objective and
scope of the research to be supported in the field of RWM:
“Through implementation-oriented RTD, the activities aim to establish a sound scientific and technical
basis for demonstrating the technologies and safety of disposal of spent fuel and long-lived
radioactive wastes in geological formations, to underpin the development of a common European
view on the main issues related to the management and disposal of waste, and to investigate ways
of reducing the amount and/or hazard of the waste by partitioning and transmutation or other techniques.
Geological disposal: Research and technological development in the field of geological disposal of
high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste involving engineering studies and demonstration of
repository designs, in-situ characterisation of repository host rocks (in both generic and sitespecific
underground research laboratories), understanding of the repository environment, studies
on relevant processes in the near field (waste form and engineered barriers) and far-field (bedrock
and pathways to the biosphere), development of robust methodologies for performance and safety
assessment and investigation of governance and societal issues related to public acceptance.
Partitioning & Transmutation: RTD in all technical areas of partitioning and transmutation (P&T)
which could be the basis for the development of pilot facilities and demonstration systems for the
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