Spent fuel management options

The nuclear generation futures that range from early plant shutdowns to market growth is discussed. The spent nuclear fuel (SNF) management approaches which are required by geologic repositories is also discussed. The approaches range from current policy to advanced fuel cycles employing Generation IV reactors. The repeated combined thermal and fast recycle approach reduces the heat load on the repository to allow the residual waste from over 3,000,000 MT of spent fuel to be disposed without repository expansion. If the appropriate SNF management approach is implemented, the requirement of a a second repository can be avoided.