Re:U.S. Reenters the Nuclear Fuel Game
by outworlder on Wednesday November 15, 2023 @01:33PM
(#38280443)
> But there's still no solution for safely storing or disposing of nuclear waste, so all those power plants currently have a stockpile of spent fuel rods, which is a huge risk imo
It isn't a huge risk. The really hot stuff decays quickly and that can happen next to the power plants no problem. What you end up left with is far less energetic and is self-contained – look up dry casks. You can stand next to them no problem and they are incredibly sturdy.
That's ignoring reprocessing. If it is radioactive enough to cause serious harm long term, it is radioactive enough to still use as fuel. There are reactor designs that can re-use them.
Honestly, I would rather have some dry casks stored at Yucca Mountain than breathing coal dust (that's often radioactive).
It isn't a huge risk. The really hot stuff decays quickly and that can happen next to the power plants no problem. What you end up left with is far less energetic and is self-contained – look up dry casks. You can stand next to them no problem and they are incredibly sturdy.
That's ignoring reprocessing. If it is radioactive enough to cause serious harm long term, it is radioactive enough to still use as fuel. There are reactor designs that can re-use them.
Honestly, I would rather have some dry casks stored at Yucca Mountain than breathing coal dust (that's often radioactive).