The energy research program of the Federal Republic of Germany

The new Energy Research Program, which for the first time will represent a complete picture of both nuclear and non-nuclear energy research, will conclude the era of the Atomic Power Programs. A total of DM 6.532 billion has been earmarked for the new Energy Research Program, of which DM 490 million will go into the development of rational uses of energy in the application and secondary sectors, DM 940 million into coal processing and other fossil sources of primary energy, DM 570 million into new energy sources, and DM 4.532 billion into nuclear power. In the nuclear power sector light water reactors will no longer be funded. However, for this sector financing of research and development of uranium enrichment and reprocessing and ultimate storage of radioactive waste will be continued. Most of the grants will go into the completion of current major projects, i.e., THTR-300 for the high temperature reactor line and SNR-300 for the LMFBR line, and into the R+D program on the development of a large uranium enrichment plant based on the gas centrifuge process. Additional funds will be spent on work improving the reactor safety of LWR plants. (orig.)