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The US Department of Energy’s plans for a more sustainable energy supply chain
by iThink Media
THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) RECENTLY COMPLETED A REPORT ENTITLED ‘AMERICA’S STRATEGY TO SECURE THE SUPPLY CHAIN FOR A ROBUST CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION’ ON WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO SECURE THE SUPPLY CHAINS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE NATION’S CLEAN ENERGY GOALS.
he ultimate objectives are: i) to achieve diverse and resilient supply chains that will (ii) meet climate change goals, (iii) establish the US as a leader in clean energy innovation and manufacturing, and (iv) create jobs in the clean energy economy.
For nuclear, DOE's goals are to enable continued operation of existing US nuclear reactors, enable deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, develop advanced nuclear fuel cycles, and maintain US leadership in nuclear energy technology.
According to DOE, this is the US government's first-ever comprehensive strategy to build a secure, resilient, and diverse domestic energy sector industrial base, and is part of a whole of government approach to revitalising the US economy and manufacturing by securing the country's most critical supply chains.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said, “Taking bold action to invest in our supply chains means America will reap the tremendous opportunities that tackling climate change presents to kickstart domestic manufacturing and help secure our national, economic, and energy security.
"The strength of a nation relies on resilient and reliable critical supply chains across sectors, and DOE's report provides the key strategies and recommendations for congress and the federal government to act now to help deliver more jobs and a stronger, cleaner future.”
The report is informed by 13 deep-dive assessments on specific technologies and
crosscutting topics, and focuses on key findings that will maximise opportunities to strengthen the energy supply chain and develop the country's energy manufacturing base and workforce.
The nuclear supply chain is critical for successfully enabling the continued operation of the US’ existing fleet of light-water reactors, as well as supporting the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies, which can provide low-carbon heat and/or electricity for facilities and processes outside the power sector, alongside other clean energy options for deep decarbonisation. Nuclear energy also provides more local
permanent jobs, and at higher average wage, than other energy sources, the deep-dive report notes.
It states, “Although there are challenges and risks in each of these areas, implementation of targeted policies would support achievement of all the goals and would strengthen the US nuclear supply chain to meet the nation's energy, environmental, and societal needs.”
Focusing on the need to deploy advanced reactors, in the near term, the main priorities for this to take place are the establishment of a secure domestic supply of the high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel that such reactors will need, and the demonstration of ‘innovative’ reactor designs
under the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), many of which require TRISO fuel and uranium metal fuel. None of these fuels is as yet commercially available.
The overarching strategy document includes in its recommendations developing an integrated waste disposal strategy for used fuel, with an “IMPLEMENTATION OF TARGETED POLICIES WOULD SUPPORT ACHIEVEMENT OF ALL THE GOALS AND WOULD STRENGTHEN THE US NUCLEAR SUPPLY CHAIN TO MEET THE NATION'S ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND SOCIETAL NEEDS”
initial focus on a consentbased siting process for the siting of federal facilities for temporary, consolidated storage; and coordinating with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to support deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in a timely manner. It calls for congressional action to amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and to support funding to agencies for the development and accelerated deployment of innovative nuclear energy systems.
It is not a criticism of the report to say that these documents contain few startling new insights into what is needed. Rather, DOE provides a thorough survey and compilation of all the many actions and institutions that need to come together to achieve reliable supply chains to enable the transition to a clean energy economy.
To read the report in full, visit www.energy.gov
www.world-nuclear-news.org
