Pictured (Front Row L-R): <\/em>Milan Shah, Chief Operations Officer, CCTE; Mehul Shah Chief Executive Officer, CCTE; Dr. Peter Elder, Chief Scientific Officer, CNL; and, Justin Hannah, Vice-President, Business Development, CNL flanked by members of the CNL and CCTE team.<\/em><\/p>\n Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) announce an agreement to manufacture demonstration irradiation (DI) bundles of ANEEL\u2122 fuel. This milestone follows successful completion of a collaborative Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI) project<\/a> which provided model verification and validation of the computer codes and analysis methods used in the design and safety analysis of ANEEL\u2122 fuel.<\/p>\n DI bundles are prototypic (full-scale) ANEEL\u2122 fuel bundles matching actual reactor fuel bundles designed for interface and irradiation testing. Manufactured by CNL at the Chalk River Laboratories, these bundles will enable CCTE to conduct demonstration irradiation which will provide practical, in-reactor data for to support future qualification and potential deployment of ANEEL\u2122 fuel in CANDU reactors and other Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). CNL will lead the development, qualification, and manufacturing of ANEEL\u2122 fuel under Canadian Standard Association (CSA) requirements for manufacturing nuclear fuel. This will allow for a DI that would provide additional reassurance to the designer, the utility, the manufacturer, and the regulator, of acceptable fuel performance and the first example of operational experience for a new fuel design.<\/p>\n \u201cThis milestone advances ANEEL\u2122 from validated models to an engineered, fleet-compatible fuel design,\u201d said Mehul Shah, Founder and CEO of Clean Core Thorium Energy. \u201cThe fabrication of reactor-representative bundles with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, followed by CCTE\u2019s subsequent irradiation, will position us to generate the performance data necessary to support regulatory review and future fleet deployment. It marks a foundational step toward commercial readiness.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCNL has maintained core capabilities in fuel research, development and fabrication enabling us to take on the manufacturing of novel and next generation fuels,\u201d explains Dr. Monica Regalbuto, Vice-President, Science & Technology. \u201cWe are pleased to be working with CCTE and to apply the deep expertise of the labs to this exciting advanced fuel project.\u201d<\/p>\n This initiative is a core component of CCTE\u2019s broader ANEEL\u2122 fuel development programme, which includes:<\/p>\n Together, these activities support the ongoing qualification and commercial readiness of ANEEL\u2122 fuel for use in existing CANDU reactor and PHWR designs.<\/p>\n ANEEL\u2122 is CCTE\u2019s patented nuclear fuel technology combining thorium with enriched uranium. The fuel retains the same external geometry as existing fuel for PHWRs and CANDU reactors, including 19- and 37-element designs. This allows for integration into current reactor fleets without major reactor hardware modifications or core design. ANEEL\u2122 is designed to achieve higher burnup and improved fuel utilisation in a once-through fuel cycle, with the potential to reduce long-lived spent fuel volumes per unit of energy generated and strengthen proliferation resistance.<\/p>\n Clean Core Thorium Energy is a nuclear fuel company exploring thorium-driven nuclear innovations. Clean Core\u2019s patented nuclear fuel technology (called the ANEEL\u2122 fuel) is comprised of thorium and enriched uranium (LEU+ to HALEU), which can improve the safety and cost-efficiency of pressurized heavy-water reactors. The ANEEL\u2122 fuel is a novel solution to safety, waste, and proliferation concerns in today\u2019s nuclear plants.<\/p>\n Learn more at\u00a0https:\/\/cleancore.energy\/<\/a>. Follow us on social media: LinkedIn<\/a> and X<\/a>.<\/p>\n As Canada\u2019s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. CNL fulfils three strategic priorities of national importance \u2013 restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.<\/p>\n By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector, and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.<\/p>\n To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\nAdvancing Fuel Performance and Testing<\/h2>\n
A Comprehensive Development Roadmap<\/h2>\n
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About ANEEL\u2122 Fuel<\/h2>\n
About Clean Core Thorium Energy<\/h2>\n
Milan Shah\r\nChief Operating Officer\r\ninfo@cleancore.energy<\/a><\/pre>\n
About CNL<\/h2>\n
Philip Kompass\r\nDirector, Corporate Communications\r\n1-866-886-2325\r\nmedia@cnl.ca<\/a><\/pre>\n