Transforming Nuclear Waste into Power: The NEWTON Initiative

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility are advancing two significant projects under the Nuclear Energy Waste Transmutation Optimized Now (NEWTON) program. This initiative aims to optimize Accelerator-Driven Systems (ADS) to generate carbon-free electricity from spent nuclear fuel while significantly reducing its radioactive lifespan. The projects are backed by $8.17 million in grants and represent a paradigm shift in how used nuclear fuel is perceived—from a permanent liability to a recyclable resource.

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The ADS technology employs a particle accelerator to bombard a target, such as liquid mercury, with high-energy protons, initiating a process known as “spallation.” This process releases neutrons that interact with long-lived isotopes in nuclear waste, effectively transmuting these hazardous components. While traditional nuclear waste remains dangerous for approximately 100,000 years, the ADS approach can reduce this timeframe to about 300 years.

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To enhance the economic viability of ADS, researchers at Jefferson Lab are addressing two main technical challenges: efficiency and power. Traditional particle accelerators require costly cryogenic cooling systems to achieve superconducting temperatures. In response, Jefferson Lab is developing niobium-tin cavities that can operate at higher temperatures, allowing for the use of standard commercial cooling units. Additionally, the team is working on spoke cavities designed to improve neutron spallation efficiency.

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A critical aspect of the ADS technology is its power source. Researchers are adapting magnetrons—components similar to those found in microwave ovens—to supply the 10 megawatts of power necessary for the accelerator. The challenge lies in ensuring that the energy frequency matches the accelerator cavity's requirements precisely at 805 Megahertz. In collaboration with Stellant Systems, the team is prototyping advanced magnetrons capable of achieving the required power thresholds efficiently.

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The NEWTON program envisions recycling the entire U.S. commercial nuclear fuel stockpile within the next 30 years. By collaborating with industry partners such as RadiaBeam and General Atomics from the outset, Jefferson Lab aims to expedite the transition of these technologies from laboratory settings to commercial manufacturing. This shift could provide a viable alternative to the long-standing debate surrounding permanent geological repositories for nuclear waste, moving towards active and productive reuse.

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Rongli Geng, head of SRF Science & Technology at Jefferson Lab, emphasized the transformative potential of this technology, stating, “Instead of having a lifetime of 100,000 years in storage, for example, you can shorten the storage years down to 300.” Geng also noted the importance of advancing accelerator science to meet the readiness required for practical applications.

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While the initiative presents promising advancements, some critics express concerns regarding the feasibility and safety of recycling nuclear waste. Questions remain about the long-term implications of using ADS technology and whether it can be implemented effectively on a large scale.

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• “Instead of having a lifetime of 100,000 years in storage, for example, you can shorten the storage years down to 300,” — Rongli Geng, Head of SRF Science & Technology at Jefferson Lab.

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• “The challenge is to really translate the accelerator science from where we are right now in terms of technology readiness to where the technology needs to be for this application,” — Rongli Geng, Head of SRF Science & Technology at Jefferson Lab.

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