Waste from Fusion Reactor: A Comparison with Other Energy Producing Systems

Future fusion reactors will generate waste during operation and decommissioning. In contrast to fission waste, fusion waste will neither contain transuranium elements nor fission products. However, the waste will contain activation products and tritium. The management of the fusion waste will be an important issue when deciding on the realisation and siting of the facilities. This paper focuses mainly on waste from future fusion power reactor designs investigated within the European programme on the safety and environmental assessment of fusion power, long-term (SEAL). Comparisons are made with other energy producing systems on radioactive material produced, radiotoxicity, waste treatment, re-cycling, clearance, intermediate storage and waste disposal.