NTPC Limited, India's largest integrated power company, has partnered with US based Clean Core Thorium Energy (Clean Core) to explore the development and deployment of ANEEL™ fuel for Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). This collaboration aims to leverage thorium-based nuclear fuel technology to enhance India's energy security and sustainability.
Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life (ANEEL™) is a new nuclear fuel developed by Clean Core, a Chicago-based company founded by Mehul Shah.
ANEEL™ is a mix of Thorium and Uranium enriched to a certain level, known as High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU).
The name ANEEL™ honors Dr. Anil Kakodkar, one of India's foremost nuclear scientists.
The collaboration aims to minimize the use of Uranium-235 by leveraging Thorium, which India has in abundance. ANEEL™ can be used in existing Pressurized Heavy-Water Reactors (PHWRs), which are a significant part of India's nuclear fleet.
It was in last month only when Clean Core announced that its patented ANEEL™ fuel has reached a groundbreaking burnup milestone in the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Laboratory. With this, Clean Core's first-of-its-kind, thorium-based ANEEL™ fuel moves a step closer to commercialization.
ANEEL™ can fast-track India's transition to green energy by efficiently utilizing Thorium reserves. Spent ANEEL fuel cannot be used for weapons, enhancing nuclear non-proliferation efforts. It can help India achieve its net-zero target by 2070 and ensure energy security.
Key Objectives:
- Development and Deployment: Explore the introduction of ANEEL™ fuel in India's PHWRs.
- Indigenization: Promote local manufacturing and develop a domestic supply chain for ANEEL™ Fuel.
- Supply Chain for HALEU: Establish logistics for High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU).
- Uranium Supply with Sovereign Guarantee: Secure uranium supplies for India to support fuel requirements.
- Utilization of Thorium: Uses India's abundant thorium reserves in existing PHWR reactors.
- Waste Reduction: Significantly lowers nuclear waste.
- Energy Security: Enhances India's energy independence.
- Improved Safety: Boosts safety and proliferation resistance.
- Cost Efficiency: Delivers greater energy output while reducing operational costs.
Earlier in October, Larsen & Toubro also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to with Clean Core to collaborate on providing efficient solutions globally in clean energy through CCTE’s patented ANEEL™ fuel.
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