TECHNOLOGY GAPS
Several R&D needs identified by the Nuclear Energy Agency, the International Energy Agency and the World Nuclear Association, include:
- Aging reactors and materials
- Environmentally sustainable uranium mining
- Long-term storage and disposal including deep geological disposal of high-level waste
- Extended dry storage of spent nuclear fuel satisfies the highest safety and security requirement
- Advanced recycling technologies to reduce volume and toxicity of high-level waste
- Safety upgrades and research
- Development of emergency preparedness guidelines tailored to each reactor
- Encouragement for young engineers and students considering careers in nuclear energy
- Optimization of Gen III designs to improve constructability and reduce costs
- R&D and prototype development for Gen IV systems to ensure technologies are ready for deployment in 2030‑40[1]
- New reprocessing technologies deployed in conjunction with fast neutron reactors[2]
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