Silex -GLE is targeting commercial SWU production at the PLEF as...

Silex -GLE is targeting commercial SWU production at the PLEF as early as 2028, with the facility conceptually capable of supporting uranium output equivalent to up to 5 million pounds U₃O₈ per year.

FYI if others aren't sure what SWU is

A Separative Work Unit (SWU) is the standard measure of the effort required to separate isotopes of uranium—specifically uranium-235 (U-235) from uranium-238 (U-238)—during the uranium enrichment process used in nuclear fuel production12346.

Key Points

• Purpose: SWU quantifies the work needed to increase the concentration of U-235 in uranium, which is necessary for nuclear reactor fuel or weapons134.

• Not a Unit of Energy: Although SWU reflects the effort and energy expended, it is not itself a unit of energy (like kilowatt-hours), but rather a measure of enrichment services236.

• Units:

  • 1 SWU = 1 kilogram of separative work (kg SWU)126.

  • Larger scales: 1 tonne SWU (tSWU) = 1,000 kg SWU1.

• How It's Used:

  • Enrichment facilities are rated by their annual SWU capacity, indicating how much uranium they can process to a desired enrichment level each year46.

  • The amount of SWU required depends on the amount of uranium being enriched, the starting concentration (feed), the desired final concentration (product), and the concentration of the waste stream (tails)2345.

The SWU Calculation

The separative work required is calculated using the following formula:

SWU=P⋅V(xp)+T⋅V(xt)−F⋅V(xf)SWU=P⋅V(xp)+T⋅V(xt)−F⋅V(xf)

Where:

• $P$: mass of product (enriched uranium)

• $T$: mass of tails (depleted uranium)

• $F$: mass of feed (input uranium)

• xpxp, xtxt, xfxf: U-235 fractions in product, tails, and feed, respectively

• $V(x)$: value function, defined as V(x)=(2x−1)ln⁡(x1−x)V(x)=(2x−1)ln(1−xx)235

Example

A large nuclear power plant (1,300 MW) might require about 25,000 kg of enriched uranium annually (at 3.75% U-235), produced from about 210,000 kg of natural uranium, using about 120,000 SWU6. An enrichment plant with a capacity of 1,000,000 SWU/year can therefore supply fuel for about eight such reactors6.

Why SWU Matters

• Industry Standard: SWU is the universal metric for comparing enrichment plant capacities and costs.

• Cost Basis: The price of enrichment services is typically quoted per SWU26.

In summary:
A SWU is a technical measure of the effort required to enrich uranium, reflecting the complexity and energy input of the process, but not directly measuring energy itself. It is fundamental to the economics and logistics of nuclear fuel supply

The list from WNA is helpful Uranium Enrichment - World Nuclear Association

It has
"Global Laser Enrichment (GLE), a business venture of Silex (51%) and Cameco (49%), has been developing a next-generation, laser-based technology for potential commercial application in enriching uranium, with an option for Cameco to attain a majority interest of up to 75% ownership. Laser uranium enrichment technology provides highly selective excitation of U-235 in UF₆ and is expected to be more flexible and cost-effective than other technologies. For more information see Laser processes section below."