International status of accelerator driven systems for advanced nuclear fuel cycles

For nuclear energy to remain a long term option in the world's energy mix, nuclear power technology development must meet sustainability goals with regard to fissile resources and waste management. The utilization of breeding to secure long-term fuel supply remains the ultimate goal of fast reactor development. Plutonium recycle in fast reactors, as well as incineration/transmutation of minor actinides and long-lived fission products in hybrid reactor systems (e.g. accelerator driven systems) also offer promising waste management options. Several R and D programmes in various IAEA Member States are actively pursuing these options, along with the energy production and breeding mission of fast reactor systems. The paper presents an overview of the major national and international R and D programs in the area of accelerator driven systems for transmutation of long-lived nuclear waste. It also describes IAEA's ongoing and planned activities in this field. (author)