Euradwaste '08 - EU Bookshop - Europa

most advanced partitioning processes and transmutation systems, involving sub-critical and critical
systems, with a view to reducing the volumes and hazard of high-level long-lived radioactive waste
issuing from treatment of spent nuclear fuel. Research will also explore the potential of concepts
that produce less waste in nuclear energy generation, including the more efficient use of fissile material
in existing reactors.”
This, therefore, represents a progression from the objectives of previous programmes. In geological
disposal, the emphasis is now much more on “implementation oriented” research. In the light of the
progress made during FP6, and also in the socio-political arena in a number of countries, these
clearly defined objectives in FP7 represent the next logical phase of support to the development of
geological disposal in Europe. Regarding P&T, research is increasingly integrated into the broad
field of nuclear systems in general, in particular advanced systems such as the generation-IV concepts
and associated fuel cycles. In order to fully achieve the ambitious generation-IV objectives of
increased sustainability through full actinide recycling, many of the techniques investigated in the
area of P&T will need to be fully developed and assimilated with advanced nuclear systems.
Introducing Technology Platforms
A Technology Platform (TP) is a forum bringing together key stakeholders – industry, academia,
research community, national research coordinators, even regulators – in a particular field of research
in order to establish and implement a strategic research agenda (SRA) in this sector. The TP
members decide amongst themselves how best to conduct future research and contribute resources
for the implementation of the SRA. Most importantly, the stakeholders share a common vision regarding
the direction in which the research should go and are willing to collaborate in order to further
the platform’s agenda. A TP belongs to its stakeholders, not to the EC, though the EC can be
instrumental in providing the initial impetus and high-level political support needed at start-up. In
addition, the SRA can be used by the EC to orient the FP calls for proposals in this field, thereby
ensuring the FP remains as effective as possible in this area as well as bringing a significant degree
of support to the platform’s activities.
On 21 September 2007, the first TP in the nuclear field was formally launched in Brussels. The
Sustainable Nuclear Energy TP (SNE-TP [5]) brings together all the principal nuclear research and
industrial stakeholders in Europe in a broad-based TP covering the whole sector of nuclear systems
and safety, including cross-cutting issues such as research infrastructures and education and training.
Industry, including nuclear suppliers, utilities and large users of electricity are all on board, as
are the major research organisations and institutes, academia and the Technical Safety Organisations
(TSOs). The vision document [5], endorsed at a high level by the stakeholders, presents the
prospects for developing nuclear technology from an R&D perspective in the coming years, with a
special emphasis on increased sustainability through the use of fast breeder reactors, cogeneration
of electricity and process heat using very-high temperature reactors, and the continued safe operation
of current light-water reactors. The whole of the fuel cycle (i.e. including recycling and P&T)
is included in the scope of SNE-TP, with the exception of geological disposal. This exclusion is
quite deliberate and reflects the sensitive nature of the disposal issue and the need for the implementing
organisations – the waste management agencies – to keep their distance from any activities
linked to promotion of nuclear technology in order to maximise credibility and trust in the eyes of
the local population at potential host sites. Nonetheless, SNE-TP is ensuring the all-important coordination
of P&T research with that on advanced nuclear systems in general.
A complementary but separate TP is being established in the area of geological disposal. First and
foremost, the main end-users, the waste management agencies, are well defined and there is broad
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