Nuclear Power Generation IV International Forum

Country / jurisdiction: United States · Year: 2001 · Status: In force · Level: International · Type: Voluntary

The Generation IV International Forum (GIF) is a co-operative international endeavor organised to carry out the research and development (R & D) needed to establish the feasibility and performance capabilities of the next generation nuclear energy systems. The Generation IV International Forum has thirteen Members which are signatories of its founding document, the GIF Charter. Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States signed the GIF Charter in July 2001. Subsequently, it was signed by Switzerland in 2002, Euratom in 2003, and the Peoples Republic of China and the Russian Federation, both in 2006. Ten of the 13 members have since signed or acceded to the Framework Agreement. These countries are working together to lay the groundwork for the 4th generation nuclear reactor (Generation IV). Nuclear power plant technology has evolved as three distinct design generations: Prototypes, Current operating plants, and Advanced reactors. The next generation of nuclear energy systems - Generation IV - must be licensed, constructed and operated in a manner that will provide a competitively priced supply of energy. They must consider an optimum use of natural resources, while addressing nuclear safety, waste and proliferation resistance and public perception concerns of the countries in which those systems are deployed. The goals adopted by GIF provided the basis for identifying and selecting six nuclear energy systems for further development. The six selected systems employ a variety of reactor, energy conversion and fuel cycle technologies. Their designs feature thermal and fast neutron spectra, closed and open fuel cycles and a wide range of reactor sizes from very small to very large. Depending on their respective degrees of technical maturity, the Generation IV systems are expected to become available for commercial introduction in the period between 2015 and 2030 or beyond.

Official source: https://www.gen-4.org/gif/