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Revolutionary Tech Promises Carbon-Free Power from Nuclear Waste

2/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility advance Accelerator-Driven Systems to generate carbon-free electricity from spent nuclear fuel.
The approach would reduce the fuel’s radioactive lifespan from 100,000 to 300 years.
The DOE’s NEWTON program funds the projects with $8.17 million to recycle the US commercial nuclear fuel stockpile within 30 years.
Jefferson Lab develops niobium-tin cavities and adapts magnetrons to meet power requirements.

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Story summary

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility advance Accelerator-Driven Systems to generate carbon-free electricity from spent nuclear fuel.
The approach would reduce the fuel’s radioactive lifespan from 100,000 to 300 years.
The DOE’s NEWTON program funds the projects with $8.17 million to recycle the US commercial nuclear fuel stockpile within 30 years.
Jefferson Lab develops niobium-tin cavities and adapts magnetrons to meet power requirements.