Review of the Western European breeder programs

Abstract

Since the beginning of the nuclear era, breeder reactors were recognized as the best way to make use of uranium resources. In Europe, the early development of the liquid metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) was initiated in England and in France in the mid-50s. Two demonstration plants, the PFR in Scotland and Phénix in France, started operation in the mid-70s. The 1200 MWe commercial size LMFBR Superphénix, built and operated by an international consortium from France, Germany, and Italy, first reached full power in 1986. Besides electricity production and the demonstration of breeding gain, it is scheduled to test burning of plutonium and other actinides in a fast flux. Present European developments are now focused on the design of a commercial European fast reactor (the 1500 MWe EFR), which could become economically competitive with LWRs when the price of uranium has increased several times.