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Nuclear Decommissioning,a Utility´s Perspective

Dr. Hartmut PammeVice President Nuclear Power Plants, RWE Power AG

PAGE 2RWE Power

Decommissioningas legal action and time frame

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Nuclear Decommissioning,the German case

RWE Power PAGE 3

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Nuclear in Germany,the post-Fukushima shock

German NPP

Brunsbüttel

Unterweser Krümmel

Brokdorf

Emsland

Grafenrheinfeld

Biblis

Philippsburg

Neckarwestheim Gundremmingen

Isar

Grohnde

Immediate and final closure of

8 of 17 nuclear units

that means

8409 out of 20457 MW

RWE Power PAGE 5

6677

17

3

88

26

23232222

21212020202020

12

201920162013 202120202018201720152014

99

201220112010 2022 2023

9 9 9

29

0

30

25

Number of Plants in 0peration

5

10

0

-820

Number of Plants in Decommissioning

15

30

25

20

15

10

5

Plants in decommissioningPlants in operation

Greifswald, Unit 1-5Gundremmingen, Unit ALingenMuelheim-KaerlichObrigheimStadeTHTR-300Wuergassen

Greifswald, Unit 1-5Gundremmingen, Unit ALingenMuelheim-KaerlichObrigheimStadeTHTR-300Wuergassen

"post-Fukushima":13th Amendment of Atomic Law

"post-Fukushima":13th Amendment of Atomic Law

Nuclear in Germany,the outlook NPP > 150 MW

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Nuclear Decommissioning, key challengesesp. under German conditions

Operating license: legal framework for multiyear post-operation phase.

Decom. license: required to start dismantling work.

Safety: preservation of vital safety functions in post-operation and dismantling phase * highly motivated and competent key-staff

required,* under strict regulatory control.

Economics: minimization of cost burden under preservation of adequate safety levels.

Nuclear waste: clear solutions (esp. for final disposal) with significant delays

RWE Power PAGE 7

Nuclear Decommissioning in Germany,the market

The decommissioning market, …

- in „paper work“ (esp.licensing activities) from now up to around 2025

- in „real“ dismantling activities from 2016 to around 2040

- in waste management solutions incl. final disposal until 2050

RWE Power

Nuclear Decommissioning,European outlook

RWE Power PAGE 8

RWE Power PAGE 9

EU-27 plus Switzerland, NPP > 150 MW

Simplified assumptions: * operating times 60 years* time frame for decom. and dismantling 25 years* no multi-decade safe enclosures

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

20302025202020152010 2065

Number of Plants in Decommissioning

160

2040

20

2035

0

Number of Plants in Operation

140

120

100

80

60

40

20902085208020752070205520502045 2060

Plants in decommissioning

Plants in operation

RWE Power PAGE 10

EU-27 plus Switzerland, NPP > 150 MW

Simplified assumptions: * operating times 60 years* time frame for decom. and dismantling 25 years* no multi-decade safe enclosures

Decommissioning „boom“around 2035 until 2075

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

206520602055205020452040203520302025202020152010 20752070

Number of Plants in Decommissioning

160

2080

20

0

Number of Plants in Operation

140

120

100

80

60

40

20902085

Plants in operation

Plants in decommissioning

Nuclear Decommissioning,

between proven processes and R&D-needs

RWE Power PAGE 11

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In general:- extensive experiences in all phases of decommissioning since more than 2 decades

- technical feasibility in compliance with safety and radiation protection standards is proven

- necessary technology spectrum is available and was applied effectively several times

- qualified service providers are available

Decommissioning, German experiences

NPP Kahl, „yesterday“ … and „today“

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Decommissioning Process

1Licencing

process

… under national responsibility, especially German characteristics… European harmonisation desirable

R&D: support for licensing processes:analyses tools plus improved measurements for the determination of (e.g. RPV) activation levels

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Decommissioning Process

2

3 Dismantling of activated components

Dismantling of contaminated systems and components

For both stepsR&D: innovations in existing technologies

e.g. improved/quicker thermal cutting technologies with lower emissions, thus lower dose rates for workers , less secondary waste

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4Dismantling of

biological shield

Dismantling of remaining

conventional components

R&D: innovations in existing technologies

e.g. dust/dose-minimizing optimisations, improved robotics, diamond wire sawing technologies

R&D: „none“

Decommissioning Process

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Final decontamination

of buildings and

structures

R&D: progressive/quicker „macro“-measurement techniques, ideally with automisation,innovations in existing „micro“/manual technologies

Decommissioning Process

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Conventional demolishing of buildings,

towards a “green meadow”

R&D: „none“

Decommissioning Process

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Bottle neck for economic decommissioning(in Germany)

… waste managementat the back-end

(Regulation for ) Radioactive waste treatment, conditioning and packaging for final disposal,

Licensing, exploration, erection and construction of disposal sites

R&D-support, especially for a harmonized (inter)national regulation, desirable

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Conclusion- At least German utilities incl. RWE with a solid expertise in all aspects of

decommissioning

- Industrial market for dismantling well established with growing trend

- R&D-challenges in the areas of ...:

* innovations in existing decommissioning technologies

* waste treatment towards „readiness“ for final disposal

* safety criteria for final repositories

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Back up

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Mass of radioactive waste for final disposal:ca. 2,5 % of total mass

Final Disposal – Volumes and masses

Final disposal volumes of conditioned waste from Decommissioning of all

German nuclear power plantsca. 135,000 m³

(equivalent to a cube withan edge length of 51 m)

51 m

Total mass of radiologicallycontrolled area:

156.600 t

Example: typical PWR

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Final repository sites Konrad & Gorleben

Konrad Gorleben

Final repository for heat-generating waste(fuel rods, waste from reprocessing etc.)

Final repository for non-heat-generating waste (low- and intermediate-level waste, also medical waste)

� Former ore mine (1957 – 1976)

� Consented for 303.000 m³ of waste packages, sufficient for all non-heat-generating waste from operation and decommissioning

� Approx. 95% of total waste volume is non-heat-generating

� Planning approval procedure started in 1982

� Consent in 2002, last instance in 2007

� Costs so far: 1.7 billion €*

� Total costs: ca. 2.6 billion €

� Unused salt dome

� Begin of selection process from 140 salt domes in the 70ies, Federal government selected Gorleben in 1977

� Exploration 1979 to 1999, moratorium in 2000

� Moratorium ceased in 2010, next steps:- exploration continues- preliminary safety analysis- international Peer Review

� Costs so far: 1.5 billion €**

� Total costs: ca. 3.7 billion €

Commissioning before 2020 expected Commissioning in 2030ies possible

** Utility share: 64.4%** Utility share: 96.5%