Technology Roadmap Update for Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems - GIF - 2014

The 2014 Technology Roadmap Update for Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems, issued by the Generation IV International Forum (GIF), evaluates progress and sets the R&D direction for nuclear technologies aiming to meet future global energy needs. This document builds on the original 2002 roadmap by highlighting developments over the past decade and refining the R&D goals for the next ten years.

The report underscores the potential of Generation IV nuclear systems in offering sustainable, safe, reliable, economically viable, and proliferation-resistant energy solutions. It discusses the evolution and potential of six nuclear systems: gas-cooled fast reactors (GFR), lead-cooled fast reactors (LFR), molten salt reactors (MSR), sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFR), supercritical water-cooled reactors (SCWR), and very high-temperature reactors (VHTR). These systems offer the possibility to reach higher efficiency and safety, reducing waste, and extending fuel resources through improved fuel cycles.

Key advancements in these technologies have been made, albeit at uneven rates due to varying national investments and priorities. The document acknowledges the extensive R&D investment in SFR and VHTR technologies due to their prior developmental groundwork. In contrast, other systems like SCWR, LFR, GFR, and MSR have seen more limited resource allocation.

The roadmap also integrates lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi accident, emphasizing the need for designs that ensure the highest safety levels. It outlines the significant milestones for each system and the overall GIF strategy, which includes enhancing international collaboration to overcome technical and regulatory challenges. The report anticipates continuing these efforts to demonstrate and deploy these advanced nuclear systems effectively by the 2030s, aligning with broader objectives of sustainability and security in global energy supply.