Case Study - Spent Fuel Management

Client - Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Prepared by: Terry Conboy

Scope of Work 

Review of international strategies for Spent Fuel Management (SFM) and identification of common criteria for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

Background to the project

The NDA was carrying out a review of the full life-cycle options for the management of spent fuel.  As part of this review, DBD was contracted to perform a study into political, regulatory and other non-technical issues which play a part in shaping the choice of options available for SFM across a range of countries.

DBD deliverables

DBD conducted research into the SFM strategies of 12 countries, including their current status and historical trends for nuclear power use and production.  It became clear that each country’s SFM policy was directly related to its policy of nuclear energy, which, in turn, is directly related to the full scope of the national energy policy. In addition, other national policies, such as environmental or international trade policies, further complicate the reasoning behind why a country may choose a particular SFM strategy.  Therefore, the scope of the study was broadened to encompass these influences.

Research results were analysed identifying trends in policy development and commonalities in influencing factors. Factors encompassing the identified drivers for policy decisions at all levels (energy, nuclear, spent fuel) were grouped and defined as decision criteria.

Additional factors that may influence the level of importance a country might place on particular criteria were also articulated and incorporated into the decision framework as weightings.

These criteria were validated by applying them to a number of potential SFM options under a variety of scenarios.

The Results

The criteria drawn from the study of international SFM strategies were demonstrated to be capable of providing a decision making framework for the development of future SFM strategies in the UK.  The objective of developing the decision framework was not to predict future decisions, rather to encompass the foreseeable range of future trends across all the issues that may impact on UK strategy development.

Client Benefits

• The NDA was provided with a framework to use as a basis for assessing or developing policies for the Spent Fuel Management.

•This framework has the capability to draw upon various stakeholder views and consider them in tandem.

 

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