Why drones are now the key to dismantling nuclear power plants

1. complex plant structure

• Nuclear power plants consist of structures that are difficult to access, such as reactor pressure vessels, pipelines and cooling systems.
• Access to these areas is often risky and technically demanding.
  
  

2. ensuring radiation protection

• Even after removal of the fuel rods, part of the plant remains radioactively contaminated.
• Minimising radiation exposure for staff is the top priority.
  
  

3. planning and documentation

• Dismantling processes require precise data on the condition and contamination of components.
• This data is essential in order to organise the process efficiently and comply with regulatory requirements.
  
  

4. disposal logistics

• The professional separation, packaging and transport of contaminated and uncontaminated materials requires a sophisticated logistics concept.
• Different categories of waste have to be treated and stored differently, from low-level to high-level radioactive materials.
  
  

5. technical complexity of decontamination

• Surface decontamination by mechanical or chemical processes must be adapted for different materials and degrees of contamination.
• Some components have to be decontaminated remotely or robotically, which is technically very demanding.
  
  

6. time and financial expenditure

• The dismantling process often extends over several decades.
• The costs are difficult to calculate and often increase during the process due to unexpected challenges.
  
  

7. personnel requirements

• Highly qualified personnel with specialised know-how are required.
• Due to the long dismantling period, expertise must be passed down through generations.
• Demographic change is making the recruitment of skilled labour more difficult.
  
  

8 Legal and social aspects

• Complex authorisation procedures have to be gone through.
• Public perception and acceptance play an important role.
• Changes in legal requirements may occur during the long dismantling phase.