Experiments for gas breeder development

To meet the energy demand on a long-term basis, especially with regard to a better utilisation of nuclear fuel, fast breeder development and operation are necessary if nuclear power is to make a major contribution to the future energy supply. The use of fast breeders means a 60 times higher utilisation of world uranium reserves than with the present reactors. The gas-cooled fast breeder is seen as a possible alternative to the sodium-cooled fast breeder. It has a high freeding rate and requires relatively little development technology as the plant technology for the high-temperature reactor and the results of fuel element development for sodium-cooled fast breeders can be made use of. (orig.)