Despite protests and opposition from neighboring countries such as China and South Korea, Japan began discharging Fukushima nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean on August 24th, with an estimated timeframe of at least 30 years. According to Japanese officials, the Fukushima nuclear wastewater being released into the Pacific primarily contains tritium (hydrogen-3) as the major radioactive substance. As nuclear energy utilization continues to expand, the Fukushima incident has drawn increased attention to the issue of nuclear waste disposal, posing significant threats to both the environment and human life when handled improperly. So, how do countries around the world manage nuclear waste?
01
Understanding the Complexity of Nuclear Waste
Nuclear energy, like any other energy source, generates waste. This waste is categorized into high, medium, and low levels of radioactivity. Surprisingly, the majority of nuclear waste, roughly 90% of it, consists of mildly contaminated items such as tools and work clothing, accounting for only 1% of the total radioactivity. High-level radioactive waste, on the other hand, constitutes 3% of the total waste but carries a staggering 95% of the total radioactivity. The remaining 7% falls into the medium-level radioactive waste category, composed mainly of used filters, steel components from nuclear reactors, and waste generated during processing.
High-level radioactive waste is particularly concerning due to its long-lasting radioactivity and potential to cause catastrophic damage if mishandled. The Fukushima nuclear plant’s wastewater, for instance, contains high-level radioactive materials like polonium, strontium, and cesium, with half-lives that can extend for hundreds of years in the natural environment. This makes it vital for countries around the world to manage nuclear waste effectively.
02
The Urgency of Safe Nuclear Waste Disposal
In the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster in 2011, several European countries, including Germany and Switzerland, made the pivotal decision to phase out nuclear power. This move highlighted the pressing need for secure nuclear waste disposal, especially as many nuclear power plants worldwide approach the end of their operational lifetimes. The question then arises, how do countries handle the task of managing nuclear waste responsibly?
03
International Methods for Managing Nuclear Waste
In situations where eliminating nuclear energy is not an immediate option, countries employ various international methods for managing nuclear waste:
1. Permanent Deep Geological Disposal
This method involves long-term storage of nuclear waste deep underground in secure geological formations, ensuring that no radioactive materials are released into the environment. The primary aim is to isolate the waste for thousands of years. Major nuclear-powered nations like France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Japan predominantly employ deep geological storage. India and China have also invested in their facilities.
2. Enhanced On-Site Storage
Enhanced on-site storage focuses on improving the safety and security of storing nuclear waste at the location of its generation, such as nuclear power plants. Measures are taken to safeguard the waste and minimize potential risks.
3. Recycling
Recycling involves reprocessing nuclear waste to recover valuable materials and reduce the volume of high-level radioactive waste. This can include extracting fissile materials for reuse in nuclear reactors and reducing the overall amount of waste.
04
Deep Geological Disposal: The Most Common Method
Among these methods, deep geological disposal stands out as the most widely used approach for nuclear waste management. However, it places stringent demands on the geological environment, requiring safeguards against groundwater infiltration, resistance to seismic activity, and the prevention of nuclear contamination over thousands of years. France, for instance, relies heavily on deep geological storage, and India and China have also established their facilities.
05
Pioneering Efforts in Nuclear Waste Management
Several countries have made significant strides in nuclear waste management:
1. Sweden
Approximately 40% of Sweden’s electricity is generated from nuclear power, with six operational nuclear power plants. The country stores its nuclear waste 500 meters deep in hard rock formations, designed to withstand natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, with the goal of safe storage for up to 100,000 years.
2. Switzerland
Switzerland, which relies on nuclear power for 40% of its electricity, has proposed a deep geological disposal site, aiming to bury nuclear fuel waste deep within geological clay. This construction is expected to commence around 2045.
3. Finland
Finland was one of the earliest countries to consider a final disposal site and is a world leader in safely burying high-level radioactive nuclear waste in granite bedrock. After 50 years of cooling in temporary storage, waste will be permanently buried deep within the granite.
4. Belgium and Hungary
Belgium recently passed regulatory legislation allowing for phased deep disposal of radioactive waste within its territory. Hungary is actively searching for deep geological storage sites for highly lethal nuclear waste, with site selection expected to be completed by 2030.
5. Germany
Germany closed its last three nuclear power plants and is working on constructing a permanent storage site for nuclear waste. However, they face the challenge of a lack of granite and must cooperate with the surface environment, burying nuclear waste in salt rock, clay rock, and crystalline granite.
6. France
France, a global leader in civilian nuclear power, processes the nuclear waste generated by its power plants and recovers uranium and plutonium from it. Plans are underway to construct deep geological storage facilities for the long-term management of French spent fuel.
06
The United States
The United States, with 104 operating nuclear power plants, generates around 2,000 tons of nuclear waste each year, providing 19% of the country’s electricity. The U.S. Department of Energy is considering geological disposal repositories as an option, similar to the models followed by Switzerland and Finland.
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository
Yucca Mountain in Nevada was designated as a nuclear waste repository by the U.S. Congress in 1987. However, opposition from the state government of Nevada has delayed its construction. As a result, high-level radioactive waste is currently stored in dry casks within nuclear power plant facilities.
07
A Global Need for Collaboration
Nuclear waste management poses complex geographical, economic, and political challenges. It’s evident that international research and cooperation in this field are crucial to ensuring the effective and safe utilization of nuclear energy. As the world grapples with the urgency of addressing nuclear waste, collaboration among nations is essential to find sustainable solutions for the generations to come.
Recommended Reading:
- 2025 TSMC Plans: $38B for 10 New Facilities
- Microsoft Blocks Win7 and Win8 Keys for Win10 and Win11
- China’s Annual Nuclear Waste Production and Disposal
Disclaimer: YUNZE maintains a neutral stance on all original and reposted articles, and the views expressed therein. The articles shared are solely intended for reader learning and exchange. Copyright for articles, images, and other content remains with the original authors. If there is any infringement, please contact us for removal.