Our research
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Learn more about our research on nuclear fuel and more specifically the fuel cycle.​

The Research Institute for Nuclear Systems for Low-Carbon Energy Production (IRESNE) has teams tasked will researching, designing, and optimising the closed fuel cycle concept.

Mur d'images de la Direction de l'énergie nucléaire. Simulation pour la conception de réacteurs à neutrons rapides de 4ème génération.

Nuclear fuel treatment
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We are committed to analysing and developing nuclear fuel treatment solutions that meet the needs of two industry players, EDF and Orano, as well as the requirements of the French national radioactive waste management agency (Andra).


  • Supporting Orano at La Hague site
    We support Orano on its measurement stations that monitor the nuclear process control systems at La Hague site. We carry out studies to check that the measurement stations are compatible with the use of new nuclear fuels. We are also developing new generations of electronic components to collect that is increasingly more accurate and reliable. Last of all, our industry partners benefit from our expertise on the current processes used to treat spent fuel.

  • Microstructural analysis:
    Within the framework of spent fuel reprocessing studies, we analyse the microstructures of irradiated fuel samples taken from fast reactors to see if dissolution could be a suitable waste management solution. By better understanding their structure, we are able to fine tune the dissolution process to obtain the best possible results.

  • Multiple recycling in PWRs:
    We are also tasked with studying the recycling of nuclear fuel from pressurised water reactors to see if it can be re-used multiple times.

  • Material management of fourth-generation reactors:
    We prepare and develop material management options for the future fleet of fourth-generation reactors.​
En partie haute le broyeur est visible avec sa jarre de broyage en matériau transparent. Ce broyeur effectue 2 mouvements simultanés : la jarre tourne en permanence sur elle-même et le broyeur oscille sur des positions bien déterminées en en répétition de séquence. Les moteurs d'entrainement du broyeur sont positionnés hors boîte à gants en face arrière avec transmissions mécaniques étanche en paroi de boîte à gants. En bas les corps broyant qui sont des orthocylindre en uranium sont positionnés dans un tamis et une boite réceptacle.

Manufacturing nuclear fuel
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Our scientists perform experiments and build models to optimise the different components of nuclear fuel. They work in the following fields:



  • Fuel for fast reactors:
    As part of research on fourth-generation reactors, teams are tasked with building models and experimenting with processes used to manufacture fuel pellets for fast reactor technologies. This new type of fuel calls for strong commitment and innovation from the industry to help find suitable solutions for this reactor technology.

  • Supporting Orano:
    We pride ourselves on supporting our industry partner, Orano, by studying all the potential improvements that could be made to their current fuel manufacturing processes, such as the wet conversion method used to make uranium dioxide (UO2).

  • CORAIL fuel assembly under investigation:
    Fast reactors can be used to recycle nuclear fuel. Scientists at IRESNE are currently modelling a fuel assembly called CORAIL in order to analyse its behaviour under irradiation; they are using the ALCYONE fuel code developed to do this.
    The CORAIL fuel assembly comprises a specific arrangement of UOX (uranium oxide) and MOX (plutonium and depleted uranium) fuel rods. This provides a better distribution of the plutonium fuel rods in the reactor, instead of bundling them together in all-MOX fuel assemblies, thereby achieving higher plutonium burn-up rates thanks to a more homogeneous neutron flux. Our scientists are not only modelling this fuel’s behaviour under irradiation, but also exploring ways of optimising the fuel assembly design to achieve even better results.

  • Preparing MOX irradiation experiments:
    Our teams design and develop irradiation experiments on this recycled MOX fuel (containing plutonium and depleted uranium) to test its feasibility under representative conditions. We irradiate MOX fuel samples made from the plutonium extracted from spent MOX fuels. This research is bringing us closer to our goal of closing the nuclear fuel cycle.
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Analyse de cycle de vie d'un procédé de recyclage avec le logiciel Gabi dans le but d'évaluer l'impact environnemental du procédé selon différents indicateurs environnementaux.

Pushing the boundaries
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As part of our approach to expanding our knowledge and innovation base, our teams are tasked with investigating a range of possible scenarios.

We assess the different options available to the nuclear reactor fleet; this involves testing assumptions developed within the scope of the French national energy & climate plan (PPE), such as multiple recycling in PWRs, life cycle analyses, etc. We also develop simulation tools to construct plausible scenarios.​