Nuclear waste management

  • Years of experience in handling radioactive waste responsibly
  • Unique lab infrastructure
  • Proven track record

Nuclear waste management in a Nutshell

Every nuclear installation will reach its end of life at some point. NRG has accumulated years of experience in handling radioactive waste responsibly, efficiently and safely. An expertise we also apply to the decommissioning of nuclear installations. Read more about our nuclear waste management.

Contact

More information about nuclear waste management?

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Marieke van Gemert
Cluster Manager

Nuclear waste managment

Waste characterisation

Radioactive waste is a multi-faceted subject. It is important to determine (characterise) the composition of the waste. This enables us to know precisely how to handle the material. Characterisation of radioactive waste is therefore very important.

To inspect the radioactive material, we perform destructive and non-destructive testing methods. Using destructive methods, the material we test will break down. Using non-destructive testing, the material remains intact. Some materials are ‘hot’, or highly radioactive. We have developed special and unique facilities to handle such materials.

We can perform the following types of characterisations:

  • Reactor components, such as control rods, reactor vessels and biological shields
  • Historical radioactive waste (‘legacy waste’)
  • Operational waste streams from the nuclear industry, NORM industry and hospitals
  • Bulk materials for clearance and free release

For more information about the facilities we use for destructive analyses see Laboratory Services.

Waste sorting and packaging

The storage costs for radioactive waste are largely dependent on the waste category. By sorting waste, the storage costs can be dramatically reduced. NRG has developed unique systems for sorting, characterising and packaging waste thanks to our own Radioactive Waste Management Programme (RWMP).

One of these systems is HIRARCHI®. This unique, non-destructive system was developed in-house to categorise waste into low, intermediate and high radioactivity levels in an efficient manner. 

Nuclear waste managment
Nuclear waste managment

Nuclear waste management Consultancy

The decommissioning of nuclear installations, complete with their respective Nuclear waste management streams is a costly process. The transportation of the nuclear waste also has a price tag. During the design of a nuclear installation, these facets have to be planned, including costs for decommissioning and waste management.

Are you looking for a partner who can provide independent advice? We advise customers from industry and government, both at home and abroad. We are familiar with national and international standards and legislations. This enables us to correctly asses costs and impact.

Our knowledge is up to date and practical, because of:

  • Our own R&D
  • Activities in our own nuclear facilities
  • Contribution to international (research) projects

We can help you with

We advise our customers on:

  • Decommissioning plans, cost estimations and audits for decommissioning projects
  • Radioactive waste management; incorporating the most recent rules and legislation whilst anticipating possible future changes
  • Development of sustainable, safe and efficient waste streams
  • Optimal waste packaging methods and transport procedures
  • Inspection of the stability of waste packages and matrices, for middle and long-term storage, using computational models and measurements
  • Safety assessments of radioactive waste storage and final disposal facilities, (safety cases)

Using interviews and workshops, we focus on creating an interactive environment for our customers. This enables you to formulate a plan of action together with our nuclear waste managment experts.

Nuclear waste managment

Projects we are proud of

drag for more

Dispose of your radioactive waste as cost-efficiently as possible? NRG has developed a method for Grafenrheinfeld for the removal of highly radioactive control rods. When cutting the control rods, virtually no metal particles end up in the reactor basin. Thanks to our intelligent loading plan the containers can be optimally filled. As a result, fewer containers are needed and the storage costs are lower.

PreussenElektra GmbH, part of E.ON GmbH, is responsible for the decommissioning of the 5 EON Nuclear Power Plants in Germany. PreussenElektra was looking for a partner who could help characterise the radioactive waste, enabling responsible and efficient storage.

STENFO Switzerland Audit Decommissioning

As an independent expert, NRG supported the Swiss government committee STENFO in auditing the cost calculations for decommissioning all five nuclear power plants.

Decommissioning of the Low Flux Reactor

NRG's second reactor is the Low Flux Reactor (LFR) or rather was the Low Flux Reactor, as it has been out of service since 2010. The LFR was built in the 1960s and has served as a training and research reactor for over 50 years. Almost every professional in the nuclear sector in the Netherlands has received training or education at the LFR. In 2018 the full decommissioning of the LFR was completed by NRG.

Partners and clients around the world

Logo Engie (1)
Stenfo Logo
Preussen Elektra Logo

Interested?

More about Nuclear waste management?
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Contact

Marieke van Gemert
Cluster Manager
T. +31610253521
M. m.vangemert@nrg.eu