The European Lead Fast Reactor Strategy and the Roadmap for the Demonstrator ALFRED

The development of the technology for a new reactor must follow a chain of gradual and progressive steps to reach maturity. This paper presents the strategy for the development of a nuclear fast reactor with closed fuel cycle and based on lead coolant technology for economical electricity production: the European Lead Fast Reactor (ELFR). This reactor has the potential to multiply by two orders of magnitude the energy output from a given amount of uranium while improving the safety of the plant and the management of high level radioactive waste (HLRW) through the transmutation of minor actinides. The roadmap of ELFR is based on the progressive up-scaling from a zero power facility to the commercial deployment of the first-of-a kind plant. The intermediate steps are a Technological Pilot Plant (MYRRHA), a Demonstrator (ALFRED) and a Prototype (PROLFR). The roadmap of the demonstrator ALFRED is also presented. (author)