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Dry storage for spent nuclear fuel at Sizewell B
EDF Energy is inaugurating the UK’s first ‘dry store’ for spent nuclear fuel, allowing the continued safe operation of its Sizewell B nuclear power station to at least 2035. Holtec International is EDF Energy’s lead supplier for the project. With testing now complete the dry fuel store is being prepared to take its first delivery of spent fuel.
A dry fuel store is a method of storing spent nuclear fuel that has already been cooled in the spent fuel pond. The fuel is loaded into a metal canister which is then welded shut and placed within a large, leak-tight steel and concrete cask. Dry fuel stores are used widely across the US and Europe but this facility is the first in the UK, says EDF.
The £200mn project has been paid for by the Nuclear Liabilities Fund, which was established to cover the costs of decommissioning. The dry fuel store will house spent fuel from Sizewell B from autumn 2016 onwards, until a suitable geological disposal facility is available for the longer-term storage of spent fuel.
News Item details
Journal title: Energy World
Subjects: Construction Engineering, Planning and Design, Economics, business and commerce, Decommissioning, Nuclear fuels, Power stations
