INDIA'S THORIUM ENERGY JOURNEY – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India's Thorium Energy Journey – science & technology

NEWS: Thorium route to generating power deserves a push

 

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

Significance of Thorium as an Energy Resource

  1. India holds the world’s largest thorium reserves, estimated at 1.07 million tonnes, positioning it as a global leader in thorium resources.
  2. Thorium has the potential to meet India’s energy demands for over a thousand years, offering a sustainable and emission-free alternative to fossil fuels.
  3. As India’s second-largest energy resource after coal, thorium could significantly reduce dependency on imported fuels and bolster energy security.
  4. Despite this enormous potential, progress in thorium energy utilisation has been minimal, even 75 years after the establishment of the Atomic Energy Commission.

Technical Challenges in Thorium Utilisation

  1. Thorium’s Fertility but Lack of Fissility:
    • Thorium cannot sustain a nuclear chain reaction on its own as it is fertile but not fissile.
    • To become fissile, thorium must be converted into Uranium-233 (U-233) through neutron bombardment.
  2. Dependence on Uranium-238 or Plutonium-239:
    • The conversion of thorium to U-233 requires either uranium-238 or plutonium-239, both of which are in limited supply in India.
    • Plutonium-239 is not naturally occurring and must be produced in uranium-fuelled reactors, adding complexity to thorium utilisation.
  3. Historical Constraints on Uranium Supply:
    • Until the 2008 Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, India faced international restrictions on accessing uranium, delaying thorium research and development.

India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Programme

  1. Stage 1 – Building a Plutonium Inventory:
    • Uranium is used in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) to produce plutonium-239 as a by-product.
  2. Stage 2 – Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs):
    • Plutonium-239 is burned in Fast Breeder Reactors to generate more plutonium, preparing for the thorium cycle.
  3. Stage 3 – The Thorium Cycle:
    • In this stage, plutonium is mixed with thorium to produce U-233, enabling large-scale use of thorium as a nuclear fuel.
  4. Sequential Progression with Delays:
    • The thorium cycle is planned only after significant progress in the first two stages, but delays in implementation have hindered progress.

Challenges and Delays in Implementation

  1. Slow Development of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs):

·         The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), crucial for Stage 2, was scheduled to begin operations in 2011 but is now delayed to late 2025.

·         This delay has stalled the transition to the thorium cycle, further postponing its large-scale utilisation.

  1. Underutilisation of PHWRs for Thorium Conversion:

·         Conventional PHWRs can convert thorium into U-233, but earlier inefficiencies in conversion limited their use.

·         Modern fuels, like High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU), have improved PHWR efficiency in thorium-uranium conversion, but India has not yet adopted HALEU technology.

  1. Neglect of Alternate Thorium Pathways:

·         The Accelerator Driven Subcritical System (ADSS) offers a method to convert thorium to U-233 using high-energy particle accelerators.

·         Although ADSS has been discussed since 2003, no concrete steps, such as project reports or Cabinet approvals, have been undertaken.

Broader Implications of Delay

  1. Missed Opportunity Amid Climate Change Urgency:
    • As the world shifts toward clean energy, India’s delay in utilising thorium hinders its potential leadership in sustainable energy solutions.
    • Thorium’s emission-free nature aligns perfectly with global efforts to combat climate change, yet India lacks urgency in its development.
  2. Unrealised Potential of Green Hydrogen Production:
    • The Indian High Temperature Reactor (IHTR), conceptualised by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 2006, was designed to produce green hydrogen.
    • Despite its promise, the IHTR project has not moved beyond the conceptual stage, highlighting a broader pattern of stagnation in nuclear innovation.

Call for a Nuclear Turnaround

  1. Urgent Focus on Thorium Development:
    • India must prioritise thorium research and development to unlock its potential as a sustainable and abundant energy source.
  2. Accelerating the Three-Stage Programme:
    • Expedite the commissioning of the PFBR to complete Stage 2 and prepare for the transition to the thorium cycle in Stage 3.
  3. Incorporating Modern Technologies:
    • Introduce HALEU fuels in PHWRs to enhance thorium-uranium conversion and reduce reliance on imported fuels.
    • Actively pursue the ADSS pathway as a viable alternative for thorium utilisation.
  4. Reinvigorating Green Hydrogen Projects:
    • Fast-track the development of the IHTR for green hydrogen production to position India as a leader in clean energy technologies 

Conclusion

The lack of progress in India’s thorium energy programme highlights a critical gap in its energy and climate strategies. By addressing delays, embracing modern technologies, and prioritising thorium-based projects, India can secure its energy future, reduce emissions, and emerge as a global leader in sustainable energy innovation.

Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/editorial/thorium-route-to-generating-power-deserves-a-push/article69015246.ece#:~:text=Thorium%20is%20fertile%20but%20not,into%20the%20fissile%20U%2D233.