Operated from 1972 to 1996 and produced 119 billion kilowatt hours of energy

Dry cask storage is a method for safely storing spent nuclear fuel after it has cooled for several years in water pools. Once the fuel rods are no longer producing extreme heat, they are sealed inside massive steel and concrete casks that provide both radiation shielding and passive cooling through natural air circulation—no water is needed. Each cask can weigh over 100 tons and is engineered to resist earthquakes, floods, fire, and even missile strikes. This makes it a robust interim solution until permanent deep geological repositories are available. The casks are expected to last 50–100 years, though the fuel inside remains radioactive for thousands. Dry cask storage reduces reliance on crowded spent fuel pools, provides a secure above-ground option, and buys time for nations to develop long-term disposal strategies. In essence, it’s a durable, self-contained “vault” for nuclear waste

  • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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    3 days ago

    This makes it a robust interim solution until permanent deep geological repositories are available.

    Molten Salt Reactors can mostly eat these; until the newer ones come out that can eat these more easily.

    Technology will find a way, with proper resourcing.

    • Tanoh@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Technology will find a way, with proper resourcing.

      And research. It has been illegal to do research on nuclear power in some countries for decades. And then they go “SeE, nO iNnOvAtIoNs!”

      • sqgl@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        Which countries?

        Are you talking about illegality to enrich to a level beyond that required for civilian use? Like Iran?