If you would like to learn more about the IAEA’s work, sign up for our weekly updates containing our most important news, multimedia and more.
Technical Meeting on Operating Experience and Lessons Learned on Managing Non-Standard Legacy Spent Fuels from Power and Research Reactors
Introduction
There is great interest in the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) due to numerous drivers, including the need of many Member States for affordable, low carbon electricity sources. The IAEA booklet “Advances in Small Modular Reactor Technology Developments” 2024 edition list 68 active reactor designs in varying stages of development. These concepts and designs include a host of new fuel materials, fuel forms and cladding materials, resulting in new spent fuel types for which a back-end solution will need to be developed for their successful management.
Objectives
The purpose of the event is to share technical information, operational experiences and lessons learned on the management of spent non-standard and exotic fuels from power and research reactors, gathered in an IAEA technical document that can be utilized by Member States to support strategic decision making for managing existing and future non-standard/exotic fuels (e.g. SMRs).
Target Audience
The event is intended for participants from research organizations, nuclear power plants and research reactors, nuclear fuel cycle facilities, waste management organizations, regulatory bodies, universities, and other organizations with expertise in the topic of management of non-standard and exotic spent fuels. Participants should be actively involved in the subject of the event, having considerable experience in the relevant activities and are able to share their insights.