How can nuclear decommissioning be adapted to support a circular economy?
Of the 641 nuclear power reactors that have been built in the world, 77% commenced operations more than 30 years ago*. Given this age distribution, the list of reactors that have been permanently shut down and require decommissioning is growing ever longer. To date, 202 reactors have been taken out of service, but this number is anticipated to increase significantly over the next 10-15 years. In addition, numerous research reactors and other types of nuclear facilities have also been shut down and require decommissioning. At the same time, the realization that a circular economy is key to a sustainable future is on the rise. This makes one wonder: How do you decommission a nuclear facility in a manner that is consistent with circularity principles?
