Global terrestrial uranium supply and its policy implications : a probabilistic projection of future uranium costs

An accurate outlook on long-term uranium resources is critical in forecasting uranium costresource relationships, and for energy policy planning as regards the development and deployment of nuclear fuel cycle alternatives. In this study, which was part of the MIT Study on the Future of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, uranium production cost projections over the next half-century are enabled through the development of a comprehensive model for resource cost ($/kg of U30 8) versus cumulative energy generation (GWe-yr). The probabilistic cost model incorporates three sub-models including Deffeyes' crustal abundance model, learning/experience effects, and economies/diseconomies of scale. Using Monte Carlo techniques to develop a cdf of the resource cost correlation factor (0), in the expression ($ 1kg) a (GWe yruiativ,, the resulting model encompasses three probabilistic industry growth scenarios, pessimistic, prudent, and optimistic, representative of confidence levels of s 85%, s 50%, and s 15%, respectively. The impacts of current domestic and international nuclear policies on industry growth (and subsequently uranium market pricing) are also evaluated, considering waste management, uranium stockpiling, and proliferation. Moreover, various options to optimize natural uranium usage including the reduction of tails during the enrichment phase, recycling reenriched uranium from SNF, recycling TRU in LWRs, and optimizing fuel burn-up are presented. Further insight is provided to examine the energy balance and environmental impacts of once-through fuel cycles as compared to recycling/ reprocessing options and other nuclear and non-nuclear fuel-cycle alternatives. The economic viability of SNF recycling and reprocessing, deployment of breeder reactors, and use of unconventional resources including thorium and seawater uranium are discussed in the conclusions of this study. The results of the study confirm that once-through LWR fuel cycles can sustain aggressive expansion of nuclear power and can remain competitive well beyond the mid-century mark; however, volatility of uranium spot prices is expected until uranium resource production/consumption equilibrium is reached.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Matthews, Isaac A

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Michael Driscoll.

• Nuclear Science and Engineering.
• Engineering Systems Division.
• Technology and Policy Program.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/62704

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/62704