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U.S. Department of Energy
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Breeder reactor: a vital option

Journal Article · · Aware; (United States)
OSTI ID:5532227
Plans for the breeder reactor depend more on political than scientific decisions. A breeder produces 60 times more energy from the same uranium resource. Breeder technology was pioneered by the US, but Russia, France, and UK are developing the breeder at the determined pace, while development in the US is stalled. The LMFBR is in demonstration and is approaching commercialization. Mr. Golan says that we cannot, nor should be expected to, demonstrate that the breeder is now an essential element in our national energy production program. The breeder is insurance against a major future constraint on energy availability. If the best of circumstances comes about so that the breeder is not so urgently needed as it now appears, we have only made an eventually needed investment 5 or 10 years too early. If the worst of the range of possible circumstances develops, our nation will be grateful that we had the foresight to develop it. Proceeding with the construction of an experimental plant does not commit the US to large-scale deployment of breeder reactors, we are simply developing an energy option. (MCW)
Research Organization:
Bechtel Corp., San Francisco, CA
OSTI ID:
5532227
Journal Information:
Aware; (United States), Journal Name: Aware; (United States) Vol. 110; ISSN AWAEB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English