Full Title: Outcomes of the CDLM-6 Topical Session: Advanced Reactor Decommissioning and Opportunities for Learning
Author(s): Nuclear Energy Agency
Publisher(s): Nuclear Energy Agency
Publication Date: March 21, 2025
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Description (excerpt):
The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Committee on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations and Legacy Management (CDLM) was created in 2018 to facilitate comprehensive exchanges of national experiences and lessons learnt in the field of nuclear decommissioning and the remediation of legacy sites. The creation of the CDLM reflects the NEA goals of providing governments and other interested stakeholders with authoritative and reliable information on the political, strategic, regulatory and social aspects of decommissioning activities and the management of legacy and complex sites.
As countries strive to achieve net zero emissions and meet the growing demand for low-carbon energy, Generation IV reactor designs and small modular reactors (SMRs) are attracting growing interest. These designs incorporate new technologies and features to improve performance, safety and sustainability and tackle challenges such as nuclear waste, proliferation risks and cost competitiveness. However, they may also lead to new challenges – including potentially complex decommissioning and dismantling activities, unknown radiological and safety hazards, and the emergence of new waste streams. At the same time, procedures or regulatory frameworks tailored to the new designs have yet to be established. Insights gained from the decommissioning of research or prototype advanced reactors can help address these challenges. To this end, regulators, industry stakeholders, research institutions and international initiatives need to, more than ever, collaborate closely and share their experiences.