Research and development policy on FBR cycle technology in Japan

The Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) and its fuel cycle (hereinafter 'FBR cycle') technology will provide harmonic solutions for global energy resource and environment issues.In Japan, the significance of FBR cycle technology development has been recognized for decades. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been the principal agency for the FBR cycle development in Japan. The experimental fast reactor, Joyo, had been successfully operated for about 30 years, beginning in 1977. The prototype FBR, Monju, achieved initial criticality in 1994. Monju is designed on the basis of research results gleaned from Joyo. Monju has the role of confirming the technological data base for design and safety evaluation tools, and of accumulating operation experiences for sodium-cooled reactors, with an eye toward commercialization. Both reactors' operations have been suspended since 2007 and 1995, respectively, due to troubles; presently, JAEA is preparing for the re-launch of operations. Furthermore, the development of FBR spent fuel reprocessing technologies was initiated in 1975, and JAEA has successfully achieved MOX fuel fabrication at the Plutonium Fuel Center, as far back as 1972. In 1999, the 'Feasibility Study on Commercialized FBR Cycle Systems (FS)' was initiated to present an appropriate picture of FBR cycle technology commercialization by 2015, as well as its research and development (R and D) program. In this study, conceptual design features were evaluated in order to select promising FBR cycle systems that could meet the design requirements that embodied the five development targets: 1) safety; 2) economic competitiveness; 3) efficient utilization of nuclear fuel resources; 4) reduction of environmental burden; and 5) enhancement of nuclear non-proliferation. As a result, the combination of sodium-cooled FBR with oxide fuel, advanced aqueous reprocessing and simplified pelletizing fuel fabrication was selected as the most promising concept for the FBR cycle system. Figure 1 shows major features of the Japanese sodium-cooled FBR. The Atomic Energy Commission of Japan (AECJ) issued the 'Framework of Nuclear Energy Policy' in October of 2005, which is the foundation of Japanese policy on research, development,and utilization of nuclear energy. In this framework, the target for development of FBR cycle technology is commercialization by y approximately 2050. In March of 2006, FBR cycle technology was selected as one of the key technologies of national importance in the third-term 'Science and Technology Basic Plan.' Subsequently, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) formulated the action plan f f for the development of nuclear technologies to materialize the framework reviewing the report of FS. Following the action plan, the council of five-parties, which consisted of MEXT, METI, the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC), the Japan Electrical Manufacturer's Association (JEMA) and JAEA, was set up to discuss the smooth transition from the R and D stage to the demonstration and deployment stages, in the process developing a solid mutual understanding of the issues. The 'Basic Energy Plan,' issued in March of 2007, explains that the FBR cycle development should be promoted as one of the most important technologies, with the aim to commercialize the FBR cycle system by 2050. Following the Japanese policy on FBR cycle technology development, MEXT, METI and JAEA, launched the Fast Reactor Cycle Technology Development (FaCT) project in 2006, in cooperation with the Japanese electrical utilities. Figure2 shows an outline of the development plan toward commercialization of the FBR cycle technology in Japan. In the FaCT project, design and experimental study for the main concept will be implemented in order to present the conceptual designs of the commercial and demonstrative FBR cycle facilities by 2015, along with the development plan to realize them. R and D has progressed to the development stage, to establish the realization of innovative technologies that can meet development targets. Consequently, the development of innovative technologies should be completed by 2015. Thereafter, the FBR cycle development project will enter the introduction stage through a first system demonstration. The demonstration FBR will be launched sometime around 2025. By around 2050, the commercial FBR cycle system will be deployed, based on experiences with the demonstration FBR cycle system. In the FaCT project, Joyo and Monju will play important roles, through demonstration as a reliable power plant and the establishment of sodium handling technology, as well as MA burning and irradiation of materials