Launch of fast reactor cycle technology development project in Japan

Sagayama, Yutaka 

JAEA launched a new FR Cycle Technology Development (FaCT) Project in cooperation with the Japanese electric utilities. The FaCT project is based on the conclusion of the Feasibility Study on Commercialized FR Cycle Systems (FS), which carried out in last seven years. In the FS, the combination of the sodium-cooled FR with oxide fuel, the advanced aqueous reprocessing and the simplified pelletizing fuel fabrication was selected as the main concept which should be developed principally. A conceptual design study of the main concept and R&D of innovative technologies are implemented toward an important milestone at 2015. The development targets, which were set up at the beginning stage of FS, were revised for the FaCT project based on the results of FS and change in Japanese society environment and in the world situation. International collaboration is promoted to pursue fast reactor cycle technology which deserves the global standard and its efficient development.