Nuclear waste management includes innovations in waste recycling, transmutation, and final disposal.Over the past 50 years, nuclear energy has avoided more than 60 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions, nearly two years’ worth of global energy-related emissions highlighting its vital role in decarbonizing the global energy system.
With growing concerns over energy security, emissions reduction, and grid stability, nuclear power is emerging as a key pillar of the energy transition. New reactor designs, modular construction methods, and enhanced safety systems are redefining how nuclear power contributes to the accessibility and scalability of clean energy.
This article provides an overview of the emerging technologies shaping the next generation of nuclear power and their role in enabling a secure, low-carbon energy future.
Innovation landscape in nuclear fission
The Climate Tech solutions described below offer promising pathways in nuclear fission to advance global climate goals and strengthen energy security. By addressing the challenges outlined in this article, these innovations help make nuclear energy more scalable and sustainable.
Market Map illustrating companies and key data points across the Nuclear Fission value chain as of October 2025. *Companies/deals may exist across multiple stages of the value chain.
The Net Zero Insights Market Compass showcases these technological advancements in a structured, multi-layered framework that brings clarity to the evolving nuclear innovation landscape.
Advanced reactors
Advanced reactors are next-generation nuclear technologies designed to be safer and more efficient than traditional reactors. They use innovative fuels, coolants, and designs to reduce waste, cut emissions, and support a low-carbon energy future.
They also expand nuclear’s role beyond electricity generation to industrial heat and hydrogen production. Key characteristics include:
- enhanced thermal efficiency
- waste minimization
- optimized resource use
- simplified construction
- lower capital costs
Unlike conventional water-cooled reactors, these systems use light water, heavy water, liquid metal, or molten salt as coolants. This enables better fuel utilization and reduced waste generation.
These reactors also allow recycling of nuclear waste. Some leading advanced reactor types include:
- Water-cooled reactors
- High-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs)
- Liquid-metal cooled reactors
- Molten salt reactors
Advanced reactor configurations
Advanced reactor configurations, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Microreactors (MRs), represent the next phase of nuclear innovation. Compact, flexible, and inherently safe, these systems deliver low-carbon energy with faster deployment and lower waste generation.
Traditional nuclear plants are large, capital-intensive projects requiring extensive infrastructure. SMRs and MRs redefine this model through modular design and scalability.
These configurations enhance nuclear energy’s versatility across electricity generation, industrial heat, and grid balancing applications.
Small Modular Reactors
Small Modular Reactors represent one of the most transformative innovations in nuclear fission. These compact systems promise lower upfront costs, faster construction, and reduced financial risk compared to traditional reactors.
SMRs are expected to generate up to 300 megawatts (electrical) of power. The small size allows modular, factory-based manufacturing, enabling quicker deployment and better cost control. Many SMRs use passive cooling systems that operate without external power, enhancing safety and reliability. They are ideal for remote or low-demand regions where large reactors are impractical.
The IAEA projects global nuclear capacity is projected to grow from 377 GW(e) in 2024 to 992 GW(e) by 2050, with SMRs expected to drive much of this expansion.
Microreactors
Microreactors are compact, factory-built nuclear systems designed for autonomous operation and enhanced safety. Typically producing up to 10 MW(e), they can operate independently from the grid, providing reliable power for remote or off-grid sites.
Entire microreactor plants can be built in a factory and transported by truck, allowing rapid deployment and minimal on-site construction.
These systems are well suited for remote communities, mining operations, military bases, and desalination facilities. A notable example is Aurora, a 1.5 MW(e) fast-spectrum reactor from US-based startup Oklo. It has very few moving parts which helps in minimal supervision and increases its safety. It is also expected to be able to operate for decades without refuelling.
Nuclear waste management
Nuclear waste management focuses on the safe handling, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials generated throughout the nuclear fuel cycle. Effective management therefore requires both short-term containment and long-term disposal strategies. Nuclear waste management includes innovations in waste recycling, transmutation, and final disposal.
There are two different management strategies for spent fuel.
- In the open fuel cycle, spent fuel is treated as waste for direct disposal in geological repositories.
- The closed cycle views spent fuel as a resource, recycling and reusing it to extract remaining energy value while minimizing waste volumes.
Nuclear waste recycling
Nuclear waste recycling converts spent fuel into reusable materials, reducing radioactive waste volumes and dependence on newly mined uranium. The process recovers valuable elements such as uranium and plutonium from irradiated fuel and reuses them to produce new fuel in the form of mixed oxide (MOX) for power generation.
France pioneered this closed fuel cycle approach, reprocessing nearly 1,150 tonnes of spent fuel annually. By recovering up to 96% of reusable material, France reduces its need for natural uranium by around 17%, while minimizing the volume and radiotoxicity of high-level waste. Similar strategies are being explored globally to strengthen energy security and improve the economics of nuclear operations.
A notable example is the joint venture between France’s newcleo and Slovakia’s state-owned JAVYS, which is developing four Generation IV lead-cooled fast reactors (LFR-AS-200) designed to reuse spent nuclear fuel as an energy source.
Nuclear waste transmutation
Nuclear waste transmutation is an emerging process that aims to transform long-lived radioactive isotopes into shorter-lived or stable ones, significantly reducing the toxicity and lifespan of nuclear waste.
By converting radioactive isotopes into less harmful forms, transmutation can shorten the timescale over which waste remains dangerous. This process eases the burden of high-level waste disposal and supports more sustainable nuclear energy cycles.
Nuclear waste final disposal
Final disposal is the last stage of nuclear waste management, focused on permanently isolating radioactive materials in secure, engineered facilities. While interim storage provides short-term safety, final disposal ensures long-term containment and minimizes environmental risks.
There are two main approaches:
- Deep geological disposal
This method stores radioactive waste several hundred metres underground in stable rock formations. It is the most advanced and reliable long-term solution for high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel. The approach uses multiple barriers such as corrosion-resistant canisters and swelling clay to prevent leakage.
Finland and Sweden lead global implementation with the KBS-3 method, which seals spent fuel in copper canisters embedded in clay up to 500 metres deep.
- Borehole disposal
Borehole disposal involves placing radioactive waste in corrosion-resistant canisters within narrow, engineered boreholes drilled 1–3 kilometres underground. It offers flexibility, strong isolation, and lower costs for smaller waste volumes, such as those from medical or research facilities.
Accelerating innovation to realize nuclear energy’s full potential
The latest wave of innovation in nuclear fission reflects the sector’s continued pursuit of performance, safety, and cost efficiency. Advanced reactor technologies are making nuclear energy more accessible, sustainable, and affordable.
With enhanced safety features, modular designs, and optimized construction processes, next-generation reactors can help countries meet their climate goals while ensuring energy security. Moreover, advancements in nuclear fuel recycling and waste management are paving the way for a more circular and resource-efficient nuclear economy.
Nuclear power can decarbonize the global energy system faster and at a lower cost than maintaining dependence on fossil fuels delivering a resilient foundation for a clean energy future.
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