A new paradigm for core design aimed at the sustainability of nuclear energy: The solution of the extended equilibrium state

The future expansion of nuclear energy, a technology identified as one of the main candidates for reducing the world’s dependence on fossil fuels, requires a thorough analysis of the sustainability of this energy source for long-term supply. Generation-IV nuclear systems could represent a turning point for energy production by minimizing the environmental footprint of the fuel cycle. A new paradigm is thus required for reactor design, focusing, at the core design level, on both the closure of the fuel cycle and the effective utilization of natural resources.