The total cumulative volume of spent nuclear fuel in NEA/OECD countries is forecast to increase steadily from roughly 260,000 tons of heavy metal in 2020. On the contrary, arisings of spent nuclear fuel are forecast to decrease from almost 7,000 tons of heavy metal in 2020 to 4,327 in 2040.
During the recycling process of spent nuclear fuel, the fission products (arisings), which are radioactive and non-recyclable, are separated from re-usable uranium and plutonium. The fission products are only four percent of the total volume of spent nuclear fuel, and represent the nuclear waste, which is stored long-term until it loses its radioactivity.
Spent nuclear fuel arisings and cumulative in storage in NEA/OECD countries* in 2019 and 2020 with a forecast to 2040
(in tons of heavy metal)
* Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development/ Nuclear Energy Association countries (OECD/NEA) members include
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia (suspended), the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United
Kingdom, and the United States.
Includes fuel from light-water reactors (LWR), fast reactors (FR), gas-cooled reactors (GCR), heavy water reactors (HWR), and others. Includes storage at the nuclear plants location and away from the nuclear plants.
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OECD-NEA. (July 1, 2022). Spent nuclear fuel arisings and cumulative in storage in NEA/OECD countries* in 2019 and 2020 with a forecast to 2040 (in tons of heavy metal) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 03, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1391065/spent-nuclear-fuel-volume-oecd-countries/
OECD-NEA. "Spent nuclear fuel arisings and cumulative in storage in NEA/OECD countries* in 2019 and 2020 with a forecast to 2040 (in tons of heavy metal)." Chart. July 1, 2022. Statista. Accessed December 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1391065/spent-nuclear-fuel-volume-oecd-countries/
OECD-NEA. (2022). Spent nuclear fuel arisings and cumulative in storage in NEA/OECD countries* in 2019 and 2020 with a forecast to 2040 (in tons of heavy metal). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1391065/spent-nuclear-fuel-volume-oecd-countries/
OECD-NEA. "Spent Nuclear Fuel Arisings and Cumulative in Storage in Nea/Oecd Countries* in 2019 and 2020 with a Forecast to 2040 (in Tons of Heavy Metal)." Statista, Statista Inc., 1 Jul 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1391065/spent-nuclear-fuel-volume-oecd-countries/
OECD-NEA, Spent nuclear fuel arisings and cumulative in storage in NEA/OECD countries* in 2019 and 2020 with a forecast to 2040 (in tons of heavy metal) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1391065/spent-nuclear-fuel-volume-oecd-countries/ (last visited December 03, 2024)
Spent nuclear fuel arisings and cumulative in storage in NEA/OECD countries* in 2019 and 2020 with a forecast to 2040 (in tons of heavy metal) [Graph], OECD-NEA, July 1, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1391065/spent-nuclear-fuel-volume-oecd-countries/
