US tech to turn nuclear waste into power, cut radioactive life by 99.7%

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility are developing Accelerator-Driven Systems (ADS) technology to transform spent nuclear fuel into a source of carbon-free electricity while drastically reducing its radioactive lifespan. Supported by $8.17 million from the DOE’s NEWTON program, the ADS approach uses particle accelerators to fire high-energy protons at targets like liquid mercury, triggering neutron spallation that transmutes long-lived radioactive isotopes in nuclear waste. This process can cut the hazardous storage time of nuclear waste from about 100,000 years down to just 300 years, effectively turning nuclear waste from a permanent liability into a recyclable fuel source. To make ADS economically viable, the Jefferson Lab team is addressing key technical challenges related to accelerator efficiency and power. They are innovating by coating niobium cavities with tin to allow operation at higher temperatures using standard commercial cooling, avoiding costly cryogenic systems. Additionally, they are developing advanced spoke cavity designs to improve neutron production efficiency.