Tear it down or start it back up? Plant owners weigh options around retired reactors

Policymakers and those involved in the energy industry recognize that demand for electricity is increasing, as are concerns about power generation’s impact on climate. Nuclear power is touted as a way to help on both fronts, providing a reliable source of energy and also doing it without harmful emissions.

Decommissioning of nuclear power plants, at times a decades-long process, has long marked the final chapter for atomic facilities. The energy industry has worked to refine the process, one that brings the challenge of safely dismantling a complex structure while also addressing environmental concerns. The need for effective decommissioning also speaks to why plant owners develop a plan for a reactor’s end of life even before a unit enters commercial operation.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said, “Decommissioning refers to the administrative and technical actions taken to remove all or some of the regulatory controls from an authorized facility so the facility and its site can be reused. Decommissioning includes activities such as planning, physical and radiological characterization, facility and site decontamination, dismantling, and materials management.” The group adds, “Decommissioning is a normal part of a nuclear facility’s lifetime and needs to be considered at the earliest stages of its development.”

Today, though, there’s another discussion. Why tear down a nuclear power plant when its units could be restarted, at a time when more electricity—particularly emissions-free power—is sorely needed?

Stantec’s nuclear lead Jag Singh was recently featured in POWER Magazine where he shares thoughts about decommissioning conventional nuclear plants.