DECOMMISSIONING OF POWER PLANTS
Since 1989, we have been helping organisations across the world realise their business goals efficiently, cost-effectively and with the minimum of environmental and social impact.
We hope that our vision, expertise and work ethic will encourage you to trust us with your business. RSK is an evolving business entity: we change with the times to offer services that directly respond to or pre-empt global conditions and legislative drivers.
All of our services are highly consultative and focus on delivering solutions rather than just amassing hard data and undertaking box-ticking exercises.
Everything we do is underpinned by a commitment to quality, environmental, health and safety excellence, as typified by our certification to the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards.
Welcome to RSK
WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE EMERGED AS ONE OF THE UK’S LEADING MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANCIES AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AND MOST RESPECTED COMPANIES OF OUR KIND IN EUROPE.
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The decommissioning of fossil fuel power plants represents a significant challenge for governments and operating companies across the world. In Europe, the focus is on a planned transition from carbon-intensive power generation to meet the long-term aim of creating a low-carbon society. Many countries are replacing ageing and end-of-life coal-fired plants with renewable energy sources.
RSK delivers a wide range of services associated with power plant decommissioning, including ■ asbestos investigations and inventories ■ material inventories: scanning, 3D measurements and designs, drone surveys ■ material matrices to define cost savings, reuse of assets and positive and negative values ■ risk assessments ■ geotechnical engineering ■ managing tender processes: technical and legal specifications and tender documents ■ health, safety, security and environment planning ■ second opinions ■ negotiation with and evaluation of contractors and advice on selection ■ permitting: contact with all governmental agencies ■ decommissioning plans ■ project management ■ integration of soil and groundwater remediation into demolition projects ■ soil and groundwater management ■ subsidies ■ site investigation by drones.
RSK also has a close and established partnership with Radiation Safety & Control Services, Inc., a decommissioning company based in the USA that specialises in waste management for commercial nuclear power operations. This includes developing and managing waste minimisation, characterisation, storage, processing, packaging, shipment and disposal programmes.
Decommissioning of power plants
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Decommissioning of power plants that were built 40 or 50 years ago presents a range of engineering and environmental challenges. Information about the materials present in a plant is often incomplete, which can lead to unpleasant surprises during a project.
RSK provides a flexible, safety-focused approach to decommissioning that draws on years of experience across many industrial sectors. The main challenges are identifying potential contaminants of concern, characterisation planning, waste management, environmental issues and defining the most effective route to reach the desired end state for the site.
Engaging with stakeholders RSK is sensitive to the needs of stakeholders and routinely engages with individuals, groups and organisations that have an interest or concern in decommissioning activities. Stakeholders such as employees, government agencies, owners (shareholders), unions and the local community can all affect or be affected by the decommissioning process.
Defining and achieving the correct end stateDefining the physical end state of a site is a key driver for the planning and implementation of decommissioning. For example, once decommissioning is complete will the site be categorised as greenfield and suitable for housing, brownfield and of industrial site release standard or of an intermediate state such as those arrangements that enable long-term care and maintenance of a site?
Contaminants of concernTraditional power generation sites are large and complex facilities with many different types of material present in the structures and surrounding environment. Our teams are experienced in dealing with a wide range of contaminants, including
■ asbestos-containing materials ■ lead-based paints ■ mercury, which was used in instrumentation, lighting and electrical switches in older power plants
■ polychlorinated biphenyls, which are often found in electrical cables, wiring, fire-retardant coatings, paint coatings, hydraulics, relays and controls
■ organic compounds such as hydrocarbons, pesticides and herbicides
■ heavy metals such as copper, silver, chromium, cadmium and titanium
■ biohazardous materials such dead animals and animal faeces
■ mould contamination ■ dioxins.
Challenges and capabilities
DEFINING A SITE’S END STATE AT THE START OF A PROJECT HELPS TO AVOID UNEXPECTED CHANGES OR REWORKING.
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CASE STUDY 2: Winnington chemical facility, UK The Winnington Urban Village project in Northwich is a mixed-use development site for 1200 houses and community and retail facilities. The site was an industrial manufacturing location for Brunner Mond, a manufacturer and distributor of soda ash (sodium carbonate).
RSK conducted site investigations and drafted outline remediation strategies and the remediation contract for the project. It administers the remediation and demolition contract between Urban Regen and the consortium of house builders developing the site. RSK is providing construction design and management advice and infrastructure design. It is also reviewing the contractor’s completion reports and its communications with the Environment Agency and the local authority.
The project is scheduled for completion in late 2017/early 2018.
CASE STUDY 1: Kinsale Energy gas facilities, Ireland RSK is providing technical support, including environmental consultancy, to assist Kinsale Energy through the regulatory consent process associated with the decommissioning of its offshore gas facilities. The facilities include offshore platforms, wells, pipelines, umbilicals, subsea structures and an onshore terminal covering approximately 3 ha at Inch in County Cork.
These facilities have been supplying gas to the Irish gas network since the early 1970s, but are now approaching the end of their productive life: cessation of production is forecast for 2020/2021.
A drone deployed at the Winnington Urban Village project shows ongoing silo demolition at the development site
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Areas of concernDuring decommissioning operations, there will be a focus on specific issues and areas of concern within a site. For power plants, this will typically include
■ fuel oil spills ■ above- and underground storage tanks ■ operational areas: chemicals, spills, maintenance and storage
■ active and inactive leach fields ■ solid waste disposal areas for asphalt, bricks, concrete, other building debris and asbestos-containing materials
■ subsurface contamination focus areas, including underground pipes and drains
■ stormwater discharge areas and site runoff areas ■ transformer and switchyard locations ■ current and former storage areas for hazardous waste ■ process management areas such as incinerators ■ former railway tracks (timbers and oil contamination) ■ fly and boiler ash, boiler slag and flue gas emissions control waste
■ water treatment wastes, waste oils and oily refuse ■ used catalysts, degreasers, solvents, blowdown and metal cleaning solutions, building sump waste and general refuse.
Sampling and continuous monitoringSampling is a key part of the decommissioning process and such programmes must be designed to meet regulatory requirements and the needs of stakeholders. Sampling at the start of the process establishes a baseline for contamination and guides the design and implementation of the clean-up plan. Continuous monitoring during the decommissioning phase provides data to ensure the work is executed within operating limits and respects the safety of neighbours and employees.
Once the decommissioning is complete, sampling will be necessary to inform stakeholders of progress and to confirm to the regulatory authorities that the site has been cleaned to the required standards.
Characterisation reportingRSK also undertakes detailed characterisation reporting: creating baseline environmental reports that include information such as site characteristics and use and any previous investigations of contaminants in the environment. Site characterisation reports provide a comprehensive evaluation of areas of concern and specific contamination issues.
Characterisation reporting is a vital part of the decommissioning process. It requires close collaboration and coordination with structural decommissioning, planned remedial action in soils and sediment, and site restoration.
Challenges and capabilities cont.
ONCE THE DECOMMISSIONING IS COMPLETE, SAMPLING WILL BE NECESSARY TO INFORM STAKEHOLDERS OF PROGRESS AND TO CONFIRM TO THE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES THAT THE SITE HAS BEEN CLEANED TO THE REQUIRED STANDARDS.
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Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2016 Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community
Site Location Plan
Source: Global Land Cover Facility, www.landcover.org.
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South MorecambeTerminal Decommissioning
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South Morecambe gas terminal site plan
CASE STUDY 4: South Morecambe gas terminal, UKRSK is providing full planning and environmental support for an application to demolish 80–90% of South Morecambe gas terminal, which lies to the south of Barrow-in-Furness. RSK was also commissioned to provide planning support for the extension of a temporary planning permission and the variation of a planning condition.
RSK has produced plans for dust management, site waste management and transport management in support of the application to be used during the demolition process, which is scheduled to commence in August 2017.
CASE STUDY 3: Bradwell nuclear power plant, UKBradwell nuclear power plant was operational from 1962 until 2002. Decommissioning started in 2006 and, at the peak of decommissioning activity, there were more than 1100 employees on-site. Now, 300 people are engaged in decommissioning activities and the site is expected to enter care and maintenance in December 2018. RSK has provided a range of services and advice throughout the decommissioning process, including characterising, processing and managing high-level waste, providing land quality strategies, removing asbestos and remediating nuclear ponds.
Asbestos removal from the turbine hall at the Bradwell power plant
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Abbots Langley Tel: +44 (0)1923 260555
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Aberystwyth Tel: +44 (0)1974 847000
AbingdonTel: +44 (0)1235 355630
Addlestone Tel: +44 (0)1932 829007
Belfast Tel: +44 (0)28 90 660993
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Bootle Tel: +44 (0)1229 718333
Boxworth Tel: +44 (0)1954 268200
Bristol (Old School) Tel: +44 (0)117 947 1000 (Structural Soils Ltd) Tel: +44 (0)117 947 1006 (RSK Group plc) Tel: +44 (0)117 947 1007 (RemedX Ltd)
Bristol (Richmond House)Tel: +44 (0)117 244 4000
Bristol (Rock House) Tel: +44 (0)117 982 1473
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Glasgow Tel: +44 (0)141 418 0471
Harpenden Tel: +44 (0)1582 460018
Helsby (head office) Tel: +44 (0)1928 726006
Hemel Hempstead Tel: +44 (0)1442 437500
Hereford Tel: +44 (0)1432 820444
Hyde Tel: +44 (0)161 368 4921
Isle of Man Tel: +44 (0)1624 604471
Leeds Tel: +44 (0)113 232 1630
Llanafan Tel: +44 (0)7774 197116
Llanelli Tel: +44 (0)1554 566566
London Tel: +44 (0)203 051 8531
Manchester (Fourways) Tel: +44 (0)161 236 2757
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Meden Vale Tel: +44 (0)1623 844331
Minety Tel: +44 (0)1666 860522
Motherwell Tel: +44 (0)1698 230231
Pool Tel: +44 (0)1872 261775
RSK is headquartered and has comprehensive coverage in the UK. Driven by key UK customers with operations overseas, we have built up a network of international offices across continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Our UK and Ireland office locations
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Runcorn Tel: +44 (0)1928 513100
Southampton Tel: +44 (0)1794 329276
Starcross Tel: +44 (0)1626 890224
Stirling Tel: +44 (0)1786 357030
Tattenhall Tel: +44 (0)1829 770569
Terrington St Clement Tel: +44 (0)1553 828127
Tonbridge Tel: +44 (0)1732 833111
Uckfield Tel: +44 (0)333 999 7687
Warrington Tel: +44 (0)1925 855440
Washington Tel: +44 (0)191 482 8500
Wigan Tel: +44 (0)1942 493255
Wolverhampton Tel: +44 (0)1902 271300
Visit www.rsk.co.uk/item/91-our-offices.html for a full list of RSK office locations and contact details.
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Our international locations
RSK HAS AN ESTABLISHED NETWORK OF PARTNER OFFICES IN BULGARIA (VARNA AND SOFIA), CZECH REPUBLIC (PRAGUE), DENMARK (AARHUS), GREECE (ATHENS), ITALY (MILAN) AND SPAIN (BARCELONA, MADRID, CADIZ, CORUNNA AND SARAGOSSA).
Algeria Algiers Tel: +213 215 594 56
AustriaGrazTel: +43 (0)664 185 32 60
Azerbaijan Baku Tel: +994 50 212 2415
BelgiumHouthalen-Helchteren Tel: +32 11 64 48 66
RSK also has offices in Ghent, Willebroek, Nivelles and Ostend.
FranceClichyTel: +33 1 57 64 18 75
RSK also has offices in Aix-en-Provence and Lyon.
GermanyStuttgart Tel: +49 711 75 88 40 40
RSK also has offices in Berlin, Essen, Kandel and Leipzig.
HungaryBudapest Tel: +36 1 2 04 19 61
RSK also has offices in Debrecen and Godollo.
India Gurugram Tel: +91 (0)124 4201376
IraqBasra Tel: +964 782 784 6339
Ireland Dublin Tel: +353 (0)1 244 4511
Italy MilanTel: +39 02 4947 6764
Kazakhstan AlmatyTel: +44 7718 523505
NetherlandsRidderkerkTel: +31 180 46 33 30
PolandWarsaw Tel: +48 22 2081380
Qatar Doha Tel: +974 44101 520Romania Bucharest Tel: +40 21 313 05 98
RussiaMoscow Tel: +7 916 887 1799
Tanzania Dar es Salaam Tel +255 764 700901
Turkey Ankara Tel: +90 312 437 7073
Uganda Kampala Tel +256 414 233204
United Arab EmiratesAbu DhabiTel: +971 2 611 8500
Other locations
Visit www.rsk.co.uk/item/91-our-offices.html for a full list of RSK office locations and contact details.
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RSK IS A FULLY INTEGRATED, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL,HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENGINEERING SERVICES COMPANY EMPLOYING MORE THAN 2000 STAFF IN OFFICES ACROSS THE UK AND INTERNATIONALLY.
TURKEY
IRAQ
RUSSIA
KAZAKHSTAN
AZERBAIJAN
UAEQATAR
FRANCE
NETHERLANDS
BELGIUM
AUSTRIA HUNGARY
ROMANIA
GERMANY
POLAND
ITALY
INDIA
SAUDI ARABIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
David O’Hagan on +44 (0)28 9066 0993 or [email protected]
www.rsk.co.uk
EVERYTHING WE DO IS UNDERPINNED BY A COMMITMENT TO QUALITY, ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY EXCELLENCE, AS TYPIFIED BY OUR CERTIFICATION TO THE ISO 9001, ISO 14001 AND OHSAS 18001 STANDARDS.
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