09 Nov New Upgraded Storage Facility (NOL) – The Process Behind Denmark's First of Its Kind
Gain insight into the process as Per Søndergaard, Chief Consultant at Danish Decommissioning, describes the development of Denmark's new upgraded storage facility for radioactive waste.
On paper, the task is actually relatively simple: build an upgraded storage facility.
However, when the upgraded storage facility is intended to contain radioactive waste, the challenges begin to emerge.
Following a political decision, Danish Decommissioning has been tasked with constructing a new upgraded storage facility, colloquially named NOL, for Denmark's radioactive waste.
But what process is involved in such a storage facility, and what requirements does it impose on the completed building when the material to be stored within it is radioactive waste?
These are some of the questions that Per Søndergaard, Chief Consultant at Danish Decommissioning, daily addresses and works with in his capacity as project manager for the NOL project.
Why NOL?
The decision to construct NOL stems from several challenges that the current storage facilities at Danish Decommissioning are deemed to face.
Firstly, Denmark was hit by storm Bodil in December 2013, and in Roskilde Fjord, the water level rose dramatically. A water level that, at its peak, measured 2.06 meters.
The water did not reach the radioactive waste, but the nuclear regulatory authorities decided after the severe storm that the waste should henceforth be secured against a water level of 3.06 meters.
Secondly, there is the practical problem that Danish Decommissioning is gradually, over time, running out of storage space and therefore requires additional capacity.
And thirdly, storing material in metal containers over extended periods requires improved humidity and climate control to prevent them from rusting or deteriorating. For this purpose, a relatively airtight building is needed, and it has been assessed that the existing storage facilities require improvement.
Per Søndergaard explains the process that led to the plans for NOL.
– Initially, the focus was on improving the current storage facilities at Danish Decommissioning, in terms of capacity, storm surge protection, and dehumidification. However, this quickly proved not to be a viable option, thus it quickly became clear that the only solution was to construct a new upgraded storage facility.
From Concept to Reality
The new upgraded storage facility is thus intended to address several challenges, but where does one begin, and how does one proceed?
Per Søndergaard has the answer to this, as he states.
– There is only one way to eat an elephant, and that is one bite at a time.
An approach that characterizes the complex process preceding the groundbreaking for NOL.
A process that is complex for several reasons, all stemming from the waste that is to be stored in the storage facility.
A fundamental principle in the management of radioactivity is to avoid exposing individuals to unnecessary radiation risk, and this significantly impacts the process that will ultimately lead to a completed 16-meter-high building containing radioactive waste.
A further challenge for the new upgraded storage facility is that the building must undergo safety approval. This approval process includes requirements that NOL be constructed in a manner that protects both employees and other individuals from radioactive radiation.
Concurrently, there are requirements that the building demands as little maintenance as possible, to minimize the aforementioned risk of radiation.
Per Søndergaard comments on this challenge:
– The fact that we are constructing a building requiring minimal maintenance over the next 50 years means we must select materials and equipment that necessitate the least possible maintenance. Furthermore, the building must be constructed in a way that minimizes inspections and routine operations.
This imposes demands on all aspects of design, materials, and construction, all of which inevitably impact the economics required to construct such a building.
– There is a constant trade-off between dose attribution and establishment costs. We do not want a building that requires major renovation during its lifetime; instead, we aim to build it correctly from the outset, says Per Søndergaard.
Furthermore, there are general regulations that must be adhered to, requiring consideration of building regulations, local plans, and environmental impact assessments.
Current Status – Safety Assessment Takes Time
The process concerning NOL is, at present, focused daily on the safety assessment, which is absolutely crucial for commencing construction.
One might be tempted to look abroad here, but fundamentally, each country has its own unique legislation and interpretation thereof concerning radioactive waste and its storage.
However, this does not mean that Danish Decommissioning is merely inactive; rather, with Per Søndergaard leading the effort, daily work is dedicated to examining scenarios, materials, and all other aspects related to the construction of NOL.
A construction project which, akin to the method of eating an elephant, can only be built in one way.
One piece at a time.