Accident Tolerant Fuel
ATF
Advanced fuel/cladding systems resisting higher temperatures and oxidation vs. Zircaloy. Includes coated pellets, FeCrAl cladding, or duplex alloys.
ATF withstands >1200°C LOCA without hydrogen generation; targets 20 GWd/t higher burnup. US DOE program: 12 concepts tested; Framatome/Westinghouse lead. Deployment in US plants by 2028; EPRI verifies performance.
Why it matters now
ATF accelerates SMR licensing and fleet upgrades for 2025-2026 baseload needs. Essential for investor confidence in safety amid regulatory push.