Innovative and safe supply of fuels for reactors

Within the EURATOM research and training program 2014-2018, three projects aiming at securing the fuel supply for European power and research reactors have been funded. Those three projects address the potential weaknesses - supplier diversity, provision of enriched fissile material - associated with the furbishing of nuclear fuels. First, the ESSANUF project, now terminated, resulted in the design and licensing of a fuel element for VVER-440 nuclear power plant manufactured by Westinghouse. The HERACLES-CP project aimed at preparing the conversion of high performance research reactor to low enriched uranium fuels by exploring fuels based on uranium-molybdenum. Finally, the LEU-FOREvER pursues the work initiated in HERACLES-CP, completing it by an exploration of the high-density silicide fuels, and including the diversification of fuel supplier for soviet designed European medium power research reactor. The main achievements of these three projects are the following. The ESSANUF project leaded to a renewed, up-to-date replacement design for VVER-440 fuel element. It also fostered collaboration between user and regulatory authorities in the countries using this type of reactor. The HERACLES-CP project has been the key in understanding innovative fuel systems for high performance research reactors, therefore permitting a selection of the most promising solution to alleviate technological locks. Finally, the on-going LEU-FOREvER project is both pursuing the goal of converting European high performance reactors and securing the fuel element supply of European medium performance research reactors. First results are promising and should, in a coming future, result in the stronger supply chain of research reactor fuels