From October 24 to 28, the TopFuel Conference—the world’s leading event in the field of nuclear fuel—was held in Santander. Javier Alonso Sanz, Head of the Nuclear Engineering Department at INGECID, took part in the conference with the presentation “COATI. Optimal Cask Loadings and Storage Planning of an ISFSI.”

COATI is a cooperative project with IBERDROLA GENERACIÓN NUCLEAR S.A., focused on developing an innovative, universal platform for the management and optimization of spent fuel (SF) inventory at nuclear power plants, as well as for loading that fuel into dry storage casks at Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations (ISFSIs).

The tool consists of four modules: Inventory Management, Loading Optimization, Dose Rate Calculation, and Loading Planning. Together, these modules make COATI a practical solution for managing spent fuel stored in spent fuel pools, enabling users to perform optimal cask loadings according to radiological criteria they define. Additionally, the system supports users in developing ISFSI loading plans that comply with both the acceptance criteria established in the cask Safety Analysis Report and the radiological limits for controlled areas defined by applicable regulations.

The event, held at the Palacio de la Magdalena in Santander, brought together leading specialists in nuclear fuel management technology from around the world—including utilities, nuclear power plants, and fuel suppliers, as well as top technologists, universities, and laboratories. Participants shared the latest cutting-edge research on current and next-generation high-performance nuclear fuels.