The slides from this talk are now available to download.
Nuclear energy is the preferred option for electrical power generation in an increasing number of countries around the world. However the growth in nuclear power depends on completing /closing the nuclear fuel cycle and this depends on safe, economic reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and responsible storage and disposal of nuclear waste.
Very few countries contemplating new nuclear build programmes have the expertise and infrastructure to complete the nuclear fuel cycle. France generates 80% of its electricity from nuclear power and has, arguably, the greatest expertise and experience of facilities for completing the fuel cycle. Électricité de France (EDF), which operates over 70 nuclear reactors worldwide, has chosen to recycle its fuel assemblies.
This lecture will examine the importance and challenges of closing the nuclear fuel cycle, illustrate how the expertise and facilities have been deployed on an industrial scale in France, and highlight the lessons for other countries. Ongoing issues arising from the Fukushima incident for fuel cycle activities and facilities will also be discussed.
Biography
Noel Camarcat holds a Ph.D degree in physics from Orsay University and an engineering degree from École Polytechnique. He spent the first part of his career at CEA, performing research and managing research teams in enrichment processes and nuclear research facilities. Between 1994 and 2000, as Fuel Cycle Director, he directed the building and the commissioning of the Atalante facility for research in radiochemical processes in Marcoule.
Between 2000 and 2004 he was Director for nuclear weapons programs at CEA/DAM and Deputy Director for the LMJ facility. In 2007, he joined EDF/Generation and took the position of special advisor for nuclear R&D and international issues.
He is also a professor of nuclear engineering at the Paris School of Mines and chairman of the European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative (ESNII) task force.