Search

Concerns over energy resource availability, climate change, air quality, and energy security suggest an important role for nuclear power in future energy supplies. While the current Generation II and III nuclear power plant designs provide an economically and publicly acceptable electricity supply in many markets, further advances in nuclear energy system design can broaden the opportunities for the use of nuclear energy. To explore these opportunities, worldwide governments, industries, and research centres started a wide-ranging discussion on the development of new systems known as "Generation IV." The European Commission has organized the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform that through its Strategic Research Agenda promoted the development of fast reactors with closed fuel cycle. Among the promising reactor technologies, the Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) has been identified as a technology with great potential to meet needs for both remote sites and central power stations. The LFR system features a fast-neutron spectrum allowing the possibility for a closed fuel cycle for efficient conversion of fertile uranium and management of actinides. A full actinide recycle fuel cycle is therefore envisioned for the design of the reference LFR meant for deployment, while the capabilities of the system to act as a net-burner of actinides from spent fuel are object of further investigation The LEADER project deals with the development of such a technology through two main goals: the conceptual design of an industrial-size LFR (the so-called European LFRor ELFR) and the conceptual design of a scaled down facility, the demonstration reactor called ALFRED (Advanced Lead Fast Reactor European Demonstrator). The European Commission, withinits seventh framework programme, has approved the proposal submitted by 16 partners comprising research centres, industrial partners and universities. The project has started in April 2010 for a duration of three years.The focus of the firs, QC 20150611