The Economics of Tearing Down Reactors - Where We Are Today in Decommissioning Costs 2025

The Economics of Tearing Down Reactors - Where We Are Today in Decommissioning Costs 2025

The cost of decommissioning nuclear power plants is now a huge economic challenge worldwide. The cost per unit generally ranges from tens to hundreds of billions of yen, depending on the size, location, duration of power generation, waste disposal methods, and other factors. Decommissioning is a national project that requires advanced technologies for radiation control and dismantling of the reactor core, and requires a long-term investment of human resources, equipment, time, and funds. In Japan, the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is the symbol of this project, which is estimated to cost approximately 8 trillion yen due to the complex process of recovering fuel debris and dealing with contaminated water. The effects of the accident will continue for generations to come, and the increased costs will create social tension. Looking at the world, Sellafield in the U.K. has spent tens of trillions of yen, and huge national investments continue in Eur
ope, while the U.S. is also developing decommissioning projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars. These costs, which will emerge after nuclear power plants are shut down, reflect the choices of the past and the responsibilities of the future, and sway the values and judgments of society. Decommissioning is a journey that asks how to end the era of nuclear power and explores the balance between safety, the environment, and economics.