Waste management strategies for fusion materials

Dworschak, H.; Rocco, Paolo; Zucchetti, Massimo

doi:10.1016/0920-3796(95)80020-x

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Fusion's proponents frequently promote the potential in energy production and estimate radioactive waste management requirements for timespans of hundreds to thousands of years [101,[110][111][112]. We suggest that such analyses must now include comprehensive assessment of proliferation risk, consistent with standard RA principles, task categories and tools [35,113]: e.g., involvement of all stakeholders and consideration of both near-term and the far future.…”

Section: Step 5: Assembling the Risk Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We suggest that such analyses must now include comprehensive assessment of proliferation risk, consistent with standard RA principles, task categories and tools [35,113]: e.g., involvement of all stakeholders and consideration of both near-term and the far future. Fusion's proponents frequently promote the potential in energy production and estimate radioactive waste management requirements for timespans of hundreds to thousands of years [101,[110][111][112]. We suggest that such analyses must now include comprehensive assessment of proliferation risk, consistent with standard RA principles, task categories and tools [35,113]: e.g., involvement of all stakeholders and consideration of both near-term and the far future.…”

Section: Step 5: Assembling the Risk Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analyzing the Nuclear Weapons Proliferation Risk Posed by a Mature Fusion Technology and Economy

2023

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Nuclear fusion is widely promoted as the ultimate environmentally friendly solution to the world’s energy demands. However, the medium/long-term nuclear weapons proliferation risks from a hypothetical fusion economy are rarely considered. Using risk assessment tools, this paper undertakes a trial scoping of proliferation hazards arising from fusion energy technologies, focused on the implications of a global ‘Mature Fusion Economy’ (MFE). In the medium term, an MFE could (1) facilitate construction of large, efficient, and reliable nuclear arsenals by producing tritium and the fissile materials Plutonium-239 and Uranium-233; and (2) erode the barriers constraining nuclear weapons acquisition by facilitating the spread of nuclear knowledge, technologies, and materials. Given the potential scale of a global MFE, management via monitoring of proliferation and diplomacy could become unworkable. Therefore, policy development must include independent and comprehensive expert and informed community assessment of such fusion-enhanced risks, transparent oversight by the nuclear disarmament community, and systematic analysis of the issues raised in this paper and their implications for fusion into the very long-term future.

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Section: Step 5: Assembling the Risk Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%