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RECYCLING Illuminated

Recycling
Nuclear Waste

Barriers to nuclear power have existed for decades. The two biggest challenges for increasing carbon-free nuclear energy are waste disposal and cost. In Phase 3, we aim to play a leading role in providing solutions to nuclear power growth by recycling and reusing spent nuclear fuel, and by transforming long-lived radioactive waste into shorter-lived or stable materials.

BOLSTERING NUCLEAR SUSTAINABILITY

Expanding Separation Science to Reuse Spent Fuel

Spent nuclear fuel still contains more than 90% of its energy capacity. It can be recycled and reused in power plants. We are well into research and development to make this a reality in the United States and beyond. We plan to scale technologies we've developed in Phase 2, including separation science that can be used to help return fuel to nuclear reactors, as well as to recoup a variety of precious metals.

A graphical depiction of an employee standing near a nuclear waste storage container
A purple beam from a fusion neutron source
MITIGATING RADIOACTIVE WASTE

Fusion May Drastically Alter Long-Lived Isotopes

We plan to scale our fusion technology to take nuclear waste mitigation a step further. We aim to use transmutation (converting one element or isotope into another through nuclear reactions) to drastically shorten the life of long-lived radioactive waste, which makes up less than 1% of current waste streams. Some radioisotopes can take millions of years to decay, but we believe — through additional experience and advancements in fusion technology — those harmful, long-lived products can be transformed into other radioisotopes that decay in decades, or less.

WHY HELP FISSION?

Advancing Clean Energy on the Way to Fusion Power

We believe fusion power is the way humans will produce energy in the future. Until then, fission (the process to produce energy in nuclear reactors) remains a strong transitional source of clean energy. Yet an estimated 90,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel — about one-third of the world's total — has been stockpiled in the United States since the 1950s. By helping to solve the world’s nuclear waste problem, we can help fission energy deliver carbon-free energy faster.

A man wearing a construction hat, protective eyewear, and a high-vis vest

What We're Striving For

We've designed our four-phased approach to produce meaningful outcomes at each stage as we work toward fusion energy. Here's what we're working toward through Phase 3: Recycling Nuclear Waste.

0 CO2 Emissions
Nuclear power plants do not produce carbon dioxide emissions while generating electricity, but one of their biggest public and political drawbacks is nuclear waste
86,000
The U.S. has an estimated 86,000 metric tons of nuclear waste, with global stockpiles estimated at 3 times that amount, a problem that we plan to mitigate through recycling
>90% Available Energy Capacity
Spent nuclear fuel has more than 90% of its energy capacity still available to be returned to and reused by nuclear power plants
Millions of Years
About 5% of nuclear waste is long-lived material that is radioactive for up to millions of years
Minutes, Days & Decades
By transmuting those long-lived isotopes, their half-lives can potentially be drastically decreased
A green neutron beam
A green neutron beam
0 CO2 Emissions
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS DO NOT PRODUCE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS WHILE GENERATING ELEcTRICITY, BUT ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST PUBLIC AND POLITICAL DRAWBACKS IS NUCLEAR WASTE
86,000
THE U.S. HAS AN ESTIMATED 86,000 METRIC TONS OF NUCLEAR WASTE, WITH GLOBAL STOCKPILES ESTIMATED AT 3 TIMES THAT AMOUNT, A PROBLEM THAT WE PLAN TO MITIGATE THROUGH RECYCLING
>90% Available Energy Capacity
SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL HAS MORE THAN 90% OF ITS ENERGY CAPACITY STILL AVAILABLE TO BE RETURNED TO AND REUSED BY NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
Millions of Years
ABOUT 5% OF NUCLEAR WASTE IS LONG-LIVED MATERIAL THAT IS RADIOACTIVE FOR UP TO MILLIONS OF YEARS
Minutes, Days & Decades
BY TRANSMUTING THOSE LONG-LIVED ISOTOPES, THEIR HALF-LIVES CAN POTENTIALLY BE DRASTICALLY DECREASED

Redefine What's Possible

We stand apart from other fusion companies because we have commercialized fusion today and we are scaling our technology. During each of our four phases, we’re perfecting core competencies needed for commercially viable fusion, producing useful products, building shareholder value, and reinvesting in future growth.
Join us and be part of the solution.