Mikhail Skupov, recipient of the National Science Award “The Challenge,” provided insights into the development of a technology for the industrial manufacturing of nitride nuclear fuel (SNUP fuel). This fuel type boasts superior density and thermal conductivity, enabling enhanced reactor safety and a reduction in peak fuel temperatures by hundreds of degrees Celsius.
SNUP fuel is engineered for Generation IV reactors, including the BREST-OD-300 and the under-design BN-1200. Mass production of this fuel will facilitate the utilization of depleted uranium and recycled spent fuel within a closed fuel cycle, substantially augmenting the resource foundation of nuclear power and lessening reliance on virgin uranium extraction.
According to Skupov, this technology further supports low-carbon energy generation and catalyzes advancements in related scientific disciplines, such as materials science, digital simulation, and robotics. This development marks the globe’s foremost industrial application of nitride fuel for high-capacity power reactors.
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