U3O8$86.00/lb▼0.62%|CCJ$121.08▲2.31%|OKLO$74.44▲4.12%|CEG$198.45▲1.15%|URA$28.90▲1.51%|URNM$52.30▲2.84%|NXE$12.57▲3.42%|U3O8$86.00/lb▼0.62%|CCJ$121.08▲2.31%|OKLO$74.44▲4.12%|CEG$198.45▲1.15%|URA$28.90▲1.51%|URNM$52.30▲2.84%|NXE$12.57▲3.42%|
SECOND ATOMIC AGE

Spent Fuel Pool

Spent fuel pools are water-filled basins at reactors for initial cooling of used fuel assemblies. Water shields radiation and removes decay heat for 5-10 years.

Pools hold 1,000-2,000 assemblies in racks at 12-25 kW/m³ heat load. Borated water prevents criticality. US pools store 140,000 tU, over capacity. Post-Fukushima upgrades added passive cooling.

Why it matters now

Overfull pools constrain restarts amid 2025-2026 demand surge from AI data centers. Transition to dry casks is key for SMR licensing and investor confidence.

Related terms

Dry Cask StorageDeep Geologic RepositoryVitrification

Related reactors

PWR