Tempo di lettura ca.: 6 minuti, 37 secondi
Written by Vasco Guedes Ferreira.
High-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) stands out as a critical nuclear fuel supply for medical isotopes production in the EU, as well as for advanced nuclear reactor development. Against a backdrop of a challenging global geopolitical context and the EU’s commitment to energy security and climate ambitions, HALEU could potentially be a game-changer. With the EU designing a comprehensive strategy for the development and deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), the role of HALEU as a nuclear fuel is attracting attention for its promise of cost-effectiveness and reliability. Concurrently, HALEU already has significance beyond electricity production, particularly in the production of medical supplies in the EU, and their export to global markets. As the EU navigates the complexities of nuclear energy policy, anchored within ongoing geopolitical dynamics and climate imperatives, a thorough examination of HALEU’s potential and challenges is paramount for informed decision-making.
A timely STOA workshop was held on 8 April 2024 to further the discussion on the EU’s strategic autonomy in nuclear fuel supplies, with a particular emphasis on HALEU use and availability. The event responded to a mounting interest in SMRs and their capacity to address the EU’s dual goals of energy security and climate resilience, all while examining the critical production of isotopes crucial for medical diagnostics and cancer treatment.
The event featured opening statements from a panel of distinguished experts in the field. Jon Carmack, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Supply Chain at the Office of Nuclear Energy, US Department of Energy, shared insights into the work by the United States on promoting domestic production of HALEU and nuclear fuels in general via a recorded message. He highlighted the partnerships with the private sector within the US HALEU availability programme, which received US$700 million under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
According to Stefano Ciccarello, the acting Director-General of the Euratom Supply Agency (ESA), the EU acquired around 300 kg of HALEU for non-power applications (i.e. medical isotopes production and research reactors) in 2022, half of which was supplied by Russia and the other half by the US. ESA expects that HALEU needs for non-power applications will be around 700‑1 000 kg/year in 2035. As ESA proposes that these needs are met through domestic production, it therefore launched the preparatory phase for a European production capability to secure a supply of HALEU to fuel European research reactors and the production of medical radioisotopes. Stefano Ciccarello also noted that, depending on the rate of SMR deployment, there is potential competition between the use of HALEU for health applications and energy production.
Ghislain Pascal, policy officer from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, introduced the recently launched European Industrial Alliance on SMRs, including its governance model. The Alliance hopes to provide a framework for coordinating activities, preparing analytical studies, sharing best practices, developing, and conducting joint actions aimed at fostering the deployment of SMRs in Europe.
Navid Samandari, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Seaborg Technologies, highlighted the challenges of the deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technologies in Europe, particularly when compared to the situation in the US. He underscored the critical importance of having a diversified and secure supply chain of nuclear fuels, including HALEU fuel. However, he stated that this is not the case in the EU, prompting his company to pivot towards low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. This shift inevitably led to increased costs and delays in bringing their advanced modular reactor design to market.
On the other hand, Hidde Baars, Government Affairs Director Netherlands & EU at Urenco, a leading European manufacturer of nuclear fuels, offered reassurance regarding HALEU supply. He affirmed that Urenco is committed to producing all types of fuels required, including HALEU, and ensuring their availability where needed. He stated that at the current level of HALEU demand in the EU, investment in production capacity is not necessary, while showing support for the role of the recently launched European Industrial Alliance on SMRs in bringing together European stakeholders and advancing decision making at the EU level.
A lively Q&A session was opened by former Member Paul Rübig, who mentioned the ongoing work of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on drafting a report on medical isotopes and asked about the quantities of HALEU available and mapping of stockpiles. STOA Panel member Jutta Paulus (Greens, Germany) enquired about the costs and possible economies of scale of SMRs, recent failures of SMR deployment and potential proliferation risks.
Panellists addressed questions from the audience, underlining that EU HALEU production for medical isotopes is in a preparatory stage, but stressing that there are many uncertainties regarding the development of SMRs, in particular the hard-to-estimate future fuel needs. It was also clarified that SMRs can be of third or fourth generation, and that third-generation SMRs (the same generation of conventional nuclear power plants in operation that use LEU) are a mature technology and probably already cost-effective. On proliferation, the importance of the Euratom safeguards legal framework and EU nuclear inspectors was mentioned, as well as the need for international cooperation on the topic in the context of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
In closing the debate, STOA Panel member Pernille Weiss (EPP, Denmark) reiterated the importance of a continuous, comprehensive political discussion based on sound scientific evidence, especially in the context of the need to reduce dependence on Russian gas and fossil fuels in general.
This workshop served as a platform for a much-needed balanced discussion on nuclear energy in the EU, acknowledging both its potential benefits and drawbacks. It provided a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in reactors that use HALEU and contributed to the political discussion in the EU on how this particular fuel could potentially play a role in ensuring a more secure energy supply.
For more details, you can watch the event recording or read a comprehensive EPRS briefing entitled: Strategic autonomy and the future of nuclear energy in the EU: Use and availability of high-assay low-enriched uranium and its potential role in securing a clean, safe energy supply.
Your opinion matters to us. To let us know what you think, get in touch viastoa@europarl.europa.euand follow us on X at @EP_ScienceTech.
[[{“value”:”
Written by Vasco Guedes Ferreira.
High-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) stands out as a critical nuclear fuel supply for medical isotopes production in the EU, as well as for advanced nuclear reactor development. Against a backdrop of a challenging global geopolitical context and the EU’s commitment to energy security and climate ambitions, HALEU could potentially be a game-changer. With the EU designing a comprehensive strategy for the development and deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), the role of HALEU as a nuclear fuel is attracting attention for its promise of cost-effectiveness and reliability. Concurrently, HALEU already has significance beyond electricity production, particularly in the production of medical supplies in the EU, and their export to global markets. As the EU navigates the complexities of nuclear energy policy, anchored within ongoing geopolitical dynamics and climate imperatives, a thorough examination of HALEU’s potential and challenges is paramount for informed decision-making.
A timely STOA workshop was held on 8 April 2024 to further the discussion on the EU’s strategic autonomy in nuclear fuel supplies, with a particular emphasis on HALEU use and availability. The event responded to a mounting interest in SMRs and their capacity to address the EU’s dual goals of energy security and climate resilience, all while examining the critical production of isotopes crucial for medical diagnostics and cancer treatment.
The event featured opening statements from a panel of distinguished experts in the field. Jon Carmack, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Supply Chain at the Office of Nuclear Energy, US Department of Energy, shared insights into the work by the United States on promoting domestic production of HALEU and nuclear fuels in general via a recorded message. He highlighted the partnerships with the private sector within the US HALEU availability programme, which received US$700 million under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
According to Stefano Ciccarello, the acting Director-General of the Euratom Supply Agency (ESA), the EU acquired around 300 kg of HALEU for non-power applications (i.e. medical isotopes production and research reactors) in 2022, half of which was supplied by Russia and the other half by the US. ESA expects that HALEU needs for non-power applications will be around 700‑1 000 kg/year in 2035. As ESA proposes that these needs are met through domestic production, it therefore launched the preparatory phase for a European production capability to secure a supply of HALEU to fuel European research reactors and the production of medical radioisotopes. Stefano Ciccarello also noted that, depending on the rate of SMR deployment, there is potential competition between the use of HALEU for health applications and energy production.
Ghislain Pascal, policy officer from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, introduced the recently launched European Industrial Alliance on SMRs, including its governance model. The Alliance hopes to provide a framework for coordinating activities, preparing analytical studies, sharing best practices, developing, and conducting joint actions aimed at fostering the deployment of SMRs in Europe.
Navid Samandari, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Seaborg Technologies, highlighted the challenges of the deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technologies in Europe, particularly when compared to the situation in the US. He underscored the critical importance of having a diversified and secure supply chain of nuclear fuels, including HALEU fuel. However, he stated that this is not the case in the EU, prompting his company to pivot towards low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. This shift inevitably led to increased costs and delays in bringing their advanced modular reactor design to market.
On the other hand, Hidde Baars, Government Affairs Director Netherlands & EU at Urenco, a leading European manufacturer of nuclear fuels, offered reassurance regarding HALEU supply. He affirmed that Urenco is committed to producing all types of fuels required, including HALEU, and ensuring their availability where needed. He stated that at the current level of HALEU demand in the EU, investment in production capacity is not necessary, while showing support for the role of the recently launched European Industrial Alliance on SMRs in bringing together European stakeholders and advancing decision making at the EU level.
A lively Q&A session was opened by former Member Paul Rübig, who mentioned the ongoing work of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on drafting a report on medical isotopes and asked about the quantities of HALEU available and mapping of stockpiles. STOA Panel member Jutta Paulus (Greens, Germany) enquired about the costs and possible economies of scale of SMRs, recent failures of SMR deployment and potential proliferation risks.
Panellists addressed questions from the audience, underlining that EU HALEU production for medical isotopes is in a preparatory stage, but stressing that there are many uncertainties regarding the development of SMRs, in particular the hard-to-estimate future fuel needs. It was also clarified that SMRs can be of third or fourth generation, and that third-generation SMRs (the same generation of conventional nuclear power plants in operation that use LEU) are a mature technology and probably already cost-effective. On proliferation, the importance of the Euratom safeguards legal framework and EU nuclear inspectors was mentioned, as well as the need for international cooperation on the topic in the context of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
In closing the debate, STOA Panel member Pernille Weiss (EPP, Denmark) reiterated the importance of a continuous, comprehensive political discussion based on sound scientific evidence, especially in the context of the need to reduce dependence on Russian gas and fossil fuels in general.
This workshop served as a platform for a much-needed balanced discussion on nuclear energy in the EU, acknowledging both its potential benefits and drawbacks. It provided a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in reactors that use HALEU and contributed to the political discussion in the EU on how this particular fuel could potentially play a role in ensuring a more secure energy supply.
For more details, you can watch the event recording or read a comprehensive EPRS briefing entitled: Strategic autonomy and the future of nuclear energy in the EU: Use and availability of high-assay low-enriched uranium and its potential role in securing a clean, safe energy supply.
Your opinion matters to us. To let us know what you think, get in touch viastoa@europarl.europa.euand follow us on X at @EP_ScienceTech.
“}]]