Idaho National Laboratory to unlock the energy potential of spent nuclear fuel

By EPN Staff

In January, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy established the Center for Used Fuel Research at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to lead research and development on the management of used nuclear fuel. 

The new center will work with U.S. national laboratories, universities and commercial industry partners to develop and demonstrate research on the safe reuse and storage of spent nuclear fuel. 

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership,” said Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Ted Garrish, “the establishment of the Center for Used Fuel Research at Idaho National Laboratory strengthens the Department’s ability to manage used nuclear fuel and unleash the next American nuclear renaissance, while delivering reliable, affordable and secure energy for American families and businesses.” 

Why it matters

Nuclear fuel recycling is effective because only 4% of the fuel’s potential energy is used during the first use. Spent fuel contains approximately 96% uranium, 1% plutonium and 3% high level radioactive waste. Once the latter is removed, the uranium and plutonium can be recovered and reused according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

Because nuclear fuel is very energy dense, a little can produce enormous amounts of electricity as compared to fossil fuels and renewable sources. The nuclear power to supply a single person’s electrical needs over the course of a year generates only 5 grams of high-level nuclear waste, according to the World Nuclear Association. 

Each year, U.S. power plants produce 2,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel. Without a permanent repository, more than 90,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel are stored at nuclear power plants across the country, according to the Government Accountability Office. Radioactive waste from the nation’s nuclear weapons programs, nuclear submarines and ships, medical applications and research is also accumulating. 

Unlike the U.S., countries like China, France, Japan and Russia have or are building fuel recycling plants, the World Nuclear Association reports. In fact, France reprocesses fuel for other countries as well. 

The U.S. is finally looking to recycling as a means to reduce waste and provide additional carbon-free power for electricity. Last year, two U.S. companies announced plans to recycle nuclear fuel, Nuclear Newswire reported. 

Oklo will build a facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to reprocess spent fuel for the Aurora Powerhouse plant that the company plans to build at the INL. A second company, Curio, has developed new processing technology in collaboration with INL and other national labs and will be able to demonstrate its pilot-scale NuCycle in 2027.

The bigger picture

After recycling, reusable fuel is returned to power plants and the waste is cooled, fused with molten glass, poured into steel containers and stored deep underground. Recycling the still-usable uranium and plutonium reduces the amount of waste that must be stored underground.  

By designating INL as the national leader in nuclear fuel research, the administration fulfills two promises: The DOE is seeking efficient, safe solutions for spent fuel and waste in compliance with the May 23, 2025 Executive Order “Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base” and the agency is fulfilling a commitment to the1995 Idaho Settlement Agreement to make the INL a leader in nuclear fuel research. 

In 1995, the state of Idaho, the DOE and the U.S. Navy forged an agreement to import spent nuclear fuel into Idaho for 40 years. In turn, the U.S. has several stipulations, including a plan to make the INL a national laboratory leader.

This comes as federal leaders are making changes to other publicly funded science agencies.