Analysis Back

Mapping Weak Signals

Inspired by: FP7 » Thorium is better fission fuel than uranium

version: 1 / created: 2009-10-19
id: #198 / version id: #198
mode: VIEW

Originally submitted by: Tuomo Kuosa
List of all contributors by versions (mouse over)
Last changed by: Tuomo Kuosa
WI-WE status:

submitted

unpublished

Source of inspiration

European Commission Framework Programme for RTD (FP7)

Theme/activity of inspiration

Theme 5 - Energy

Sub-theme/area of inspiration

Knowledge for energy policy-making

Signal's headline

(max. 9 words)

Thorium is better fission fuel than uranium

Signal's description

(approx. 150 words)

Please describe the Weak Signal (approx. 150 words)

There is three times more thorium in nature in comparison to uranium. It is possible to get 40 time more energy from thorium in comparison to equel mass of uranium. Nuclear waste can be used as energy source in thorium reactors. Thorium reactor produces 1000-10 000 times less waste in comparison to uranium reactors.

Keywords

thorium; fission reactor; nuclear waste, uranium, energy

Signal's first apperance

before 2000

Signal's potential evolution

It could lead to...

	issue	type of issue/development	potential impact on society	timeframe for the issue to become at least 50% probable
#1	Production of new types of nuclear reactors	new/emerging	mainly beneficial	now-2025

Under what assumption the Weak Signal might evolve.

The world is running out of uranium. Thorium reactors are useful for destroying nuclear waste and plutonium.

Importance

		please specify
	please select	please specify
Level 4: important for the whole world

Progress: 47.92% WWI-WE Version: 1
0	mandatory questions pending
19	questions total
8	questions answered
8	questions completed
11	questions pending