Nuclear Waste Conversion Could Revolutionize Clean Energy Production

Nuclear waste may offer a transformative solution for clean energy by providing a key isotope for nuclear fusion, according to physicist Terence Tarnowsky from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Speaking at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society this week, Tarnowsky outlined how harvesting tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, from nuclear fission byproducts could pave the way for sustainable energy production.

Tritium is not readily available on Earth and is expensive to produce, posing a significant barrier to the viability of nuclear fusion. This process, which involves fusing atoms to release energy, could theoretically yield vast amounts of clean power. The fusion of tritium with deuterium, another hydrogen isotope, is among the most promising methods for generating energy. Currently, there are approximately 90,000 tons of nuclear waste in the United States, much of which presents long-term storage challenges.

Tarnowsky emphasized the potential of nuclear fusion to provide “emission-free, abundant energy.” However, he noted the limitations surrounding tritium availability, stating, “There’s limited availability and a high cost for tritium right now, and that presents a barrier to the technology’s success.”

Challenges in Tritium Production

The development of the first generation of nuclear fusion reactors is likely to depend heavily on tritium. While alternative fusion reactions exist, they typically require higher temperatures, making them less practical and more costly. Tritium’s radioactive nature complicates its collection; it has a half-life of approximately 12.3 years, which means that stored quantities decay rapidly. As Tarnowsky pointed out, “You can’t put excess tritium in a bank and get it all in 50 years like you can with other energy sources.”

For future fusion plants to thrive, efficient tritium production methods must be established. Current reactors utilize nuclear fission, which, while generating energy, also produces significant amounts of long-lived nuclear waste. This waste consists of unusable materials, such as uranium and plutonium, which can remain hazardous for hundreds of millions of years, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Tarnowsky proposes a novel approach to generating tritium from existing nuclear waste. By employing a particle accelerator to split atoms within the waste, a series of reactions could yield tritium. Although this process would not eliminate nuclear waste, it would create additional value from existing materials.

Recent technological advances could enhance the efficiency of this tritium production method. Tarnowsky’s preliminary estimates suggest that using 1 gigawatt of energy—costing at least tens of millions of dollars—could produce approximately 4.4 pounds (or 2 kilograms) of tritium annually. This amount could potentially power tens of thousands of homes in the U.S. for a year.

A Paradigm Shift in Energy Production

Currently, the supply of tritium in the U.S. is neither stable nor affordable, with prices hovering around $15 million per pound (or $33 million per kilogram). In contrast, the nation is sitting on thousands of tons of nuclear waste that are costly to store and pose environmental risks.

“This technology is possible today,” Tarnowsky stated. He envisions a significant shift in the utilization of spent nuclear fuel, which is predominantly government-owned. Despite the potential, many details still need to be ironed out before a comprehensive proposal can be developed.

The perception of nuclear power has evolved, especially after historical accidents at facilities like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. Tarnowsky expressed optimism about the current reception of his ideas, noting, “The times have changed.” As the world seeks sustainable energy solutions, the repurposing of nuclear waste into tritium could represent a substantial step towards a future powered by clean energy.