In an effort to tackle the challenge of decommissioning nuclear plants and managing radioactive waste, Belgian researchers are developing a pioneering metal smelting furnace to reduce the radioactive waste content in metals.
The initiative is a collaboration between Swiss Federal Centre for Nuclear Research (SCK CEN) and the Centre for Metallurgical Research (CRM Group). Their joint venture, announced earlier this week, marks a significant step in responding to the need for effective solutions to radioactive waste and materials.
This will become increasingly important due to the decommissioning of nuclear power plants around the world. Belgium aims to carve a niche in this emerging industry. In an interview with L’Echo, Guido Mulier, a dismantling expert at SCK CEN, explained that in each reactor, there are about 500 tons of low-level radioactive waste. "Our goal is to reduce by 97% the proportion of these that will have to be stored in permanent nuclear waste facilities."
Managing Director of SCK CEN Peter Baeten told L’Echo about the importance of understanding the metallurgical behaviours under extreme temperatures: "Metals from nuclear power plants are already melted in furnaces but there are a lot of constraints. Here, we will try to reduce them by combining our radiological expertise with that of the CRM in steelmaking."
Nuclear energy is a vital part of Belgium's energy mix and new techniques to deal with the waste are constantly being investigated. Credit: Belga
Funding for the Smeld project, amounting to €13.4 million, has been allocated from the European recovery plan, with €3.4 million earmarked for prototype construction and €10 million for research activities.
In a recent statement, Thomas Dermine, the Secretary of State for Recovery who played a pivotal role in facilitating the collaboration between the research partners, underscored the economic potential of reactor decommissioning, estimating an opportunity worth €1.2 billion to €1.4 billion for each reactor.
"Assuming that the furnace works and that the business plan holds up, we could be ready for the industrial stage before 2030," Baeten said.
Related News
- Belgium in Brief: Bringing detail to the nuclear debate
- Europe's green future depends on saving the energy debate from a 'dogmatic sect'
Furthermore, the project aligns with the principles of circular economy, as the purified metals devoid of radioactive contamination are slated for use in the steel industry, reinforcing the concept of sustainability and resource efficiency.
In summary, the collaboration between SCK CEN and CRM Group represents a significant stride towards addressing the challenges of nuclear waste management, while also fostering industrial growth and sustainability in Belgium and beyond.
