SFEN 2010 Annual Convention - Nuclear energy: development and outlook for the 21. century - Synthesis of the technical sessions

The following issues have been tackled in this conference. Issue 1: the outlook of nuclear energy. Most experts agree that fossil energies will be replaced by a mix of renewable energies and nuclear energy and energy conservation will be developed. Issue 2: uranium resource. Reprocessing, burnup increase or thorium fuel are means studied to optimize the uranium resource. Issue 3: reprocessing and wastes. An efficient management of radioactive wastes is the best asset to gain public acceptance. Reprocessing is an important element for easing final disposal of spent fuels by removing actinides. Issue 4: second and third generation reactors. This century will be the century of light water reactors because of the reactors planned to be built and because of the trend towards the extension to 60 years of the operating life of already built reactors. Issue 5: Fourth generation reactors. Certainly fast reactors and sodium reactors are the most likely, helium cooled reactors require further developments. Issue 6: research reactors. The next generations of reactors to be built, the closure of the fuel cycle, the processing of wastes, require experimental programs in research reactors. Issue 7: what beyond the fourth generation? Thermonuclear energy is very long term research and seems unlikely to produce electricity before the end of this century. (A.C.)