Radioactive waste management feasibility study for ČEZ Group
Radioactive waste is one of the major areas of concern related to the operation of nuclear power. The regulatory limits for clearance of radioactive waste are low and become increasingly stricter to minimize the environmental burden of nuclear power. Moreover, handling and disposing of radioactive waste is a significant cost to the operator and therefore, improving the waste management processes and decreasing the amount of waste for final disposal provides a cost-saving incentive to the operators. To further optimize the waste management at CEZ operated nuclear power plants, Fortum conducted a feasibility study to investigate the potential for further waste volume minimization by applying Fortum’s NURES® ion exchange technology to the Dukovany and Temelín plants.
Key highlights
- Strategic collaboration for waste minimization
- NURES® technology for radioactive liquid waste
- Building trust through responsible waste management
Building trust through responsible waste management
In addition to the currently operating reactors, the Czech Republic is advancing its nuclear energy strategy to ensure long-term energy security and reduce carbon emissions. In 2024, the government approved plans to construct new nuclear units at the Dukovany site, with potential expansion at Temelín. The public support for nuclear energy in the Czech Republic has remained consistently high, positioning the country among the most pro-nuclear nations in Europe. The high social acceptance is a result of successful operation of the currently operating reactors, proactive efforts in waste management, and open communication within the communities. Nevertheless, continuous improvement in radioactive waste management remains essential to maintain public trust, meet evolving safety standards, and ensure long-term environmental protection. Therefore, ČEZ and Fortum have collaborated in the area of radioactive liquid waste management to find feasible options for waste minimization and thus, contribute to the environmental targets.
Testing NURES® for ČEZ evaporator concentrates
Fortum has used NURES® technology at its Loviisa nuclear power plant in Finland since the early 1990s. As CEZ operates similar reactors in the Czech Republic, the potential for applying NURES® was deemed very promising. In the feasibility study, Fortum performed laboratory tests together with the University of Helsinki with simulant solutions prepared according to the chemical and radiochemical analysis data of the evaporator concentrates of Dukovany and Temelín. The key radionuclides in the waste were Cs-137, Co-60, Am-241, Ni-63, and Sr-90 and the removal of these nuclides was tested using Fortum’s highly selective NURES® materials in static and dynamic conditions. The aim was to reach high decontamination in order for the boric acid liquid to be treated as conventional waste instead of radioactive waste. The laboratory tests showed very good results especially for Cs-135, Am-241, and Sr-90. Corrosion products, Co-60 and Ni-63, were challenging due to their complex chemistry in highly alkaline solutions as evaporator concentrates. However, the results were improved with optimizing the conditions such as through pH alterations.
Summary
One of the key motivators for the study was to show the possible volume reduction of the final disposable waste. As NURES® has the potential to treat significant volumes of liquid waste and pack it into a small volume of ion exchange material, it can minimize the burden of nuclear waste management for the environment and also provide significant cost savings. For ČEZ, the main motivation was to apply the best available technology and reach maximum volume reduction by using sustainable waste treatment alternatives. The motivation is very much the philosophy of nuclear waste management and should be highlighted in waste management strategy throughout the lifetime of nuclear power plants.
Our goal is to manage waste as responsibly as possible. The project with Fortum helps us seek solutions that can reduce the amount of waste destined for final disposal, thereby contributing to environmental protection and long-term public trust. For ČEZ, it is a priority to use the best available technologies. The verification of NURES® under our conditions fits into the strategy of continuous improvement in waste management and the support of sustainable approaches throughout the entire lifecycle of nuclear power plants. We highly value the professional cooperation and approach of our partners from Fortum. – says Miroslav Kučera, manager at the CEZ, radioactive waste department.
