The Department of Energy's Water-Cooled Breeder Program--Should It Continue?

Gao ID: EMD-81-46 March 25, 1981

The water-cooled breeder program of the Department of Energy (DOE) is trying to prove that existing types of nuclear powerplants, called water-cooled reactors, can produce more fuel than they consume. DOE needs to consider certain factors when deciding whether the water-cooled breeder concept should be developed further. GAO addressed: (1) whether the water-cooled breeder program should continue; (2) the effectiveness of the program's management; and (3) the resolution of necessary issues before the water-cooled breeder becomes commercially viable.

GAO believes that the water-cooled breeder program should continue. However, DOE should move forward now to prove that the water-cooled breeder does breed rather than pursuing other, secondary objectives which will substantially add to the cost and time required to complete the project. Day-to-day management control is effective, but changes could be made to long-term planning efforts. Long-term cost and schedule estimates to allow for more accountability for achieving critical steps in the development process need to be developed. DOE should transfer responsibility for the program to the division responsible for developing other commercial reactor systems. The issues identified by GAO which need to be resolved before the water-cooled breeder can become commercially viable are the: (1) future role of nuclear power in meeting the energy needs of the Nation; (2) potential role of the water-cooled breeder versus other breeder technologies; (3) apparent lack of substantial electric utility and nuclear vendor interest; (4) need to develop a thorium fuel cycle capability; and (5) need for nuclear fuel reprocessing.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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