Comparative Evaluation of Russian Nuclear Energy Deployment Scenarios with Fast and Thermal Reactors in Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle (Russian Federation). Chapter 3.9

This chapter presents structured report of the first of the four case studies done by experts from the Russian Federation. This section provides the results of a case study on a comparative evaluation of Russian nuclear energy deployment scenarios with water cooled thermal reactors and sodium-cooled fast reactors in the closed nuclear fuel cycle (the so-called 'two-component NES'). The performed analysis is based on the extensively utilized IAEA/INPRO approach for carrying out comparative evaluations of NES options, including advanced uncertainty treatment in regard to weighing factors. The comparative analysis considered 10 possible Russian nuclear energy deployment scenarios with different shares of water cooled thermal reactors and sodium-cooled fast reactors, including options involving the use of MOX fuel in VVERs. The scenario analyses involved eight key indicators arranged in a three-level objective tree and were conducted to the year 2100. The comparative evaluations and rankings were carried out based on the multi attribute value theory according to the KIND approach and utilizing the KIND-ET tool and its extensions. The model for assessing the key indicators was elaborated using the IAEA/INPRO nuclear energy planning tool -MESSAGE-NES. The information base of the study was formed by publications of experts from the Joint Stock Company 'State Scientific Centre of Russian Federation Institute of Physics and Power Engineering' (JSC SSC RF-IPPE), National Research Centre 'Kurchatov Institute (NRC Kurchatov Institute) and National Research Nuclear University Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (NRNU MEPhI).