TopFuel 2006
22 - 26 October, Salamanca, Spain
Brussels, 31 October 2006
TopFuel 2006: European Nuclear Society
(ENS) puts international spotlight on nuclear fuel management
From 22-26 October, 340 researchers,
nuclear engineers and scientists from across Europe and beyond
congregated in the ancient university city of Salamanca, Spain,
to discuss the challenges facing the developers and manufacturers
of new high-performance nuclear fuels – fuels that will
help meet current and future energy demand and reduce man’s
over dependence upon CO2-emitting fossil fuels.
TopFuel is an annual topical meeting
organised by ENS, the American Nuclear Society and the Atomic
Energy Society of Japan. This year it was co-sponsored by the
IAEA, the OECD/NEA and the Spanish Nuclear Society (SNE). TopFuel’s
primary objective was to bring together leading specialists in
the field from around the world to analyse advances in nuclear
fuel management technology and to use the findings of the latest
cutting-edge research to help manufacture the high performance
nuclear fuels of today and tomorrow.
The TopFuel 2006 agenda
revolved around ten technical sessions dedicated to priority issues
such as security of supply, new fuel and reactor core designs,
fuel cycle strategies and spent fuel management. Among the many
topics under discussion were new developments in fuel performance
modelling, advanced fuel assembly design and the improved conditioning
and processing of spent fuel. During the week, a poster exhibition
also gave delegates the opportunity to display and discuss the
results of their latest work and to network with fellow professionals.
One important statement to emerge from
TopFuel 2006 was that the world has enough reserves of uranium
to support the large-scale and long-term production of nuclear
energy. The OECD/NEA and the IAEA recently published a report
entitled Uranium 2005: Resources, Production and Demand
(the Red Book). The report, which makes a comprehensive
assessment of uranium supplies and projected demand up until the
year 2025, concludes by saying “…the uranium resource
base is adequate to meet projected future requirements.”
With the global nuclear revival gathering
momentum, this event – which registered a record attendance
for an ENS conference - provided a unique opportunity for professionals
in the nuclear fuel industry to discuss the key issues of the
day, to exchange experiences, to consolidate recent engineering
and technological advances and to focus on the future.
Commenting on the tangible sense of
purpose and focus shown by delegates, José Gutierrez, Nuclear
Fuel Director at ENUSA Industrias Avanzadas and Chairman of the
TopFuel 2006 Conference, said: “The ultimate goal for specialists
involved in all phases and aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle is
to develop the next generation of nuclear fuels that will help
ensure security of energy supply and, help combat climate change
combined with the highest standards of safety. The record attendance
at TopFuel this year shows how the nuclear industry and research
community is results-driven, single-mindedly focused on achieving
its goals and on the right track to deliver.”
After the conference, delegates visited
the nuclear fuel manufactoring facility of ENUSA Industrias Avanzadas,
in Juzbado, close to Salamanca.
TopFuel is a must for nuclear fuel
and spent fuel managers, fuel manufacturers, engineers and designers,
nuclear power plant operators, materials scientists and research
experts from all sectors of the nuclear industry. Most of the
world’s major utilities were represented in Salamanca, as
well as fuel manufacturers, several national nuclear organisations
and research centres of excellence.
For more information on TopFuel 2006
- including copies of the papers – and other ENS conferences,
visit the ENS website at:
www.topfuel2006.org,
or contact Kirsten Epskamp, ENS Conference Manager, at + 32 2
505 30 54.
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