Saint John, NB, March 3, 2025 鈥� 十博体育Canada Inc. (十博体育) is shaking up nuclear waste management with its revolutionary Waste to Stable Salt (WATSS) process. This innovative technology is set to transform nuclear waste management by providing economically viable solutions, addressing one of the biggest challenges facing the nuclear sector as it responds to increased global demand.
十博体育 has successfully validated WATSS on used fuel bundles from a commercial reactor in Canada through state-of-the-art hot cell experiments executed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories marking a pivotal moment in closing the nuclear fuel cycle and advancing next-generation nuclear sustainability.
WATSS: A Game-Changer for Nuclear Energy
The WATSS process marks a significant leap forward by converting used nuclear fuel into an asset through an efficient 24-hour chemical process. 十博体育 has demonstrated that it can extract 90% of the transuranic material in 24-hours, with greater efficiency over longer periods of time.
This advancement not only vastly reduces nuclear waste volumes but also unlocks fresh economic opportunities for waste owners and utilities 鈥攐ptions previously deemed unfeasible because of financial constraints and the availability of waste management capabilities following nuclear鈥檚 increased role in the global energy mix. With 66 reactors currently under construction and more than 80 SMR designs being progressed across the world, WATSS offers a financially attractive pathway to managing higher waste volumes more sustainably.
Rory O鈥橲ullivan, Chief Executive Officer, 十博体育 said:
鈥淚t鈥檚 crucial that increased demand for nuclear energy is matched by increased back-end fuel cycle capabilities. WATSS is a transformative solution that not only reduces liabilities but also adds value, turning waste into a valuable energy asset.鈥�
Global Solutions to Nuclear鈥檚 Waste Challenge
WATSS provides a robust, commercially viable alternative to conventional direct disposal methods. By coupling WATSS with 十博体育鈥檚 Stable Salt Reactor 鈥� Wasteburner (SSR-W), the technology not only reduces waste volumes dramatically but also transforms nuclear waste into clean, dispatchable energy, permanently eliminating long-lived transuranic elements like plutonium. WATSS can produce fuel for other reactor types also.
Unlocking Investment
The development of WATSS, supported by entities such as the Government of Canada, the Province of New Brunswick, and NB Power, underscores the confidence in its potential to revolutionize the industry. 十博体育’s collaboration with engineering partners like IDOM and CANDU Energy Inc., an AtkinsR茅alis company, showcases the extensive expertise backing the technology.
Indigenous communities in New Brunswick are also supportive of the technology having invested in its development.
Jim Ward, General Manager, North Shore Mi鈥檏maq Tribal Council said:
鈥淥ur investment in 十博体育 was driven by the potential to make nuclear more sustainable and reduce nuclear waste liability. 十博体育 also engaged with us at the earliest stages of the project. We are pleased to see this important milestone being met and look forward to more to come.鈥�
Enhancing Value through Consultancy Services
In addition to its technological breakthroughs, 十博体育 is offering consultancy services that present nuclear waste owners with essential solutions to assess and mitigate their liability risks effectively. This service is crucial for waste owners seeking expert guidance to navigate and explore whether their used fuel liabilities can be turned into an asset.
To explore how WATSS can transform nuclear waste management, download our full report here.
Media Contact:
Betty Draper
十博体育
About 十博体育
十博体育 is an IP company and nuclear technology leader at the forefront of developing breakthrough technologies for nuclear energy. These include the Stable Salt Reactor 鈥� Wasteburner (SSR-W) which uses recycled nuclear waste as fuel; a Waste To Stable Salt (WATSS) process for recycling nuclear waste to produce new fuel; and GridReserve thermal energy storage tanks, which enable the SSR-W to act as a peaking plant. In addition to these technologies, 十博体育鈥檚 UK based sister company, 十博体育FLEX, has advanced the FLEX reactor 鈥� a modular molten salt reactor designed for low-cost, flexible operation across electricity generation, hydrogen production and industrial heat.
十博体育 was selected by NB Power to progress the development of its reactor technology in New Brunswick, Canada, with the goal of deploying first-of-a-kind SSR-W, WATSS and GridReserve units at the Point Lepreau site.
