HALEU
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Energy
| Stands for | High-assay low-enriched uranium |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
HALEU stands for High-assay low-enriched uranium, an energy abbreviation.
Uranium enriched to between 5% and 20% uranium-235, more than conventional reactor fuel but below the weapons-usable threshold. Many advanced reactor designs, including some small modular and fast reactors, require HALEU to run longer and more compactly.
Example: The advanced reactor's start-up was delayed because its HALEU fuel supply was not ready.
Usage notes
Russia has been the main commercial supplier, so the United States began domestic production at Centrus Energy's Piketon, Ohio, facility in 2023. Pronounced "HAY-loo." Building a reliable HALEU supply chain is a major hurdle for designs such as TerraPower's Natrium and X-energy's Xe-100.
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