ANEEL (Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life)

An innovative fuel named ANEEL (Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life) was recently developed by researchers of U.S.

About the ANEEL (Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life):

• The ANEEL fuel is a blend of Thorium and High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) that can enhance the performance of reactors and other pressurised heavy-water reactor designs.
  • HALEU is a uranium enriched greater than 5% and less than 20% of the U-235 isotope and a proposed fuel in many advanced non-light water reactor designs.
  • HALEU is also crucial for advanced nuclear reactor designs.

Advantages of ANEEL:

• It can be used in traditional boiling water and pressurized water reactors, but it works best when used in heavy water reactors.
• It can be developed and deployed more quickly.
• It reduces nuclear waste volume and operating costs.
• It has produced more energy as compared to conventional fuels.
• The spent ANEEL fuel cannot be reused for weapons, providing assurance to uranium suppliers and reactor operators.
• It can be used in India’s existing Pressurized Heavy-Water Reactors (PHWRs), offering a viable solution.
• It has the potential to transform India’s energy landscape by harnessing its abundant Thorium reserves.
  • Unlike uranium, thorium alone cannot be directly used as nuclear fuel in a reactor. 

Thorium Reserves in India:

• India possesses the world’s largest Thorium reserves, estimated at 1.07 million tonnes.
• The country’s thorium reserves make up 25% of the global reserves.
• This reserve can sustain green energy production for over a century, aligning with India’s net-zero target by 2070.
• Thorium, a fertile material, requires pairing with fissile materials like Uranium-235 or Plutonium-239 for use in reactor.
  • India faces a challenge due to limited stocks of Uranium-235.
• In India, Thorium is found in Monazite mineral which is abundant in states like- Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Jharkhand.

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