American Technology Cuts Nuclear Waste Danger by 99.7% While Generating Clean Power
Washington, Friday, 20 February 2026.
US researchers at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility have developed revolutionary technology that transforms dangerous nuclear waste into safer materials while producing carbon-free electricity. The breakthrough reduces radioactive waste lifespan from 100,000 years to just 300 years through accelerator-driven systems that use high-energy protons to transmute harmful isotopes. With $8.17 million in federal funding, this dual-purpose innovation could revolutionize nuclear waste management globally while accelerating clean energy adoption by addressing the industry’s most persistent challenge.
Jefferson Lab Leads $8.17 Million Federal Initiative
On February 19, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy selected Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Virginia, to spearhead two groundbreaking research projects focused on nuclear waste management [2]. The facility received $8.17 million in grants through the Nuclear Energy Waste Transmutation Optimized Now (NEWTON) program, marking a significant federal investment in accelerator-driven systems technology [1][2]. Rongli Geng, head of SRF Science & Technology at Jefferson Lab and principal investigator for both projects, explained the transformative potential: “Instead of having a lifetime of 100,000 years in storage, for example, you can shorten the storage years down to 300” [1][2].
Advanced Accelerator Technology Transmutes Radioactive Materials
The technology employs Accelerator-Driven Systems (ADS) that use particle accelerators to fire high-energy protons at target materials, triggering a process called spallation that releases neutrons [1]. These neutrons interact with unwanted isotopes in spent nuclear fuel, converting them into more manageable materials that can either be repurposed or buried safely [2]. The process reduces the hazardous lifespan of nuclear waste from approximately 100,000 years to just 300 years, representing a 99.7 percent reduction in radioactive duration [1]. Geng noted the dual benefit: “These neutrons will interact with these unwanted isotopes and convert them into more manageable isotopes that you can either try out for some beneficial use or bury underground” [2].
Technical Challenges and Industrial Partnerships
The two-pronged research approach addresses critical technical hurdles in scaling ADS technology for commercial deployment. The first project, supported by a $4,217,721 grant, focuses on enhancing superconducting radiofrequency particle accelerator components using niobium-tin cavities, involving partnerships with RadiaBeam Technology and Oak Ridge National Laboratory [2]. The second project, funded with $3,957,203, develops advanced magnetrons capable of providing the 10 megawatts of power required for ADS operation, working with Stellant Systems and General Atomics Energy Group to achieve precise 805 Megahertz frequency matching [1][2]. “We need a lot of power - 10 Megawatts or more. That’s why the efficiency becomes very critical,” Geng emphasized [2].
Ambitious Timeline for National Nuclear Waste Solution
The NEWTON program sets an ambitious goal to enable recycling of the entire U.S. commercial nuclear fuel stockpile within 30 years [1][2]. This timeline represents a paradigm shift from long-term burial strategies to active, productive reuse of nuclear materials [1]. Geng acknowledged the scale of the challenge: “The challenge is to really translate the accelerator science from where we are right now in terms of technology readiness to where the technology needs to be for this application” [1][2]. The technology’s success could significantly impact global nuclear waste management, as radioactive waste produced worldwide since the 1950s would fit into a single football stadium [3], yet current storage solutions require millennia-long containment strategies.