When waste becomes a resource : applying a circular economy framework to nuclear power decommissioning

Perko, Tanja (avtor), Geysmans, Robbe (avtor), Turcanu, Catrinel (avtor), Román-Ross, Gabriela (avtor), Vercelli, Maia (avtor)

The term “circular economy” (CE) has been used inconsistently in nuclear decommissioning, leading to potential misinterpretations and mismatches between CE definitions and practices. With numerous nuclear installations worldwide requiring decommissioning, a clear and consolidated definition of CE, along with relevant dimensions and indicators, is needed to enable transition from the prevailing linear approach to a more sustainable and circular one. This study addresses two key questions: How can CE be defined in the context of nuclear decommissioning to ensure clarity and consistency? What key indicators can assess the practical implementation of CE in decommissioning? A two-round Delphi study was conducted in 2024 with nine experts to address these questions. The findings were validated through a facilitated Group discussion with 19 stakeholders, including industry professionals, operators, authorities, and researchers. The results provide a unified definition of CE in nuclear decommissioning and measurable indicators covering societal, environmental, health and safety, techno-economic, and legal dimensions. This study offers actionable insights for regulators, practitioners and policymakers, facilitating the integration CE principles and the comprehensive evaluation of circularity in nuclear decommissioning processes.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: circular economy, nuclear decommissioning, sustainability indicators, Delphi study, stakeholder engagement, policy requirements
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FDV - Fakulteta za družbene vede
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: Str. 1-10
• Številčenje: Art. no. ǂ104320, Vol. 127
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177535
• UDK: 316.334
• ISSN pri članku: 2214-6326
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2025.104320
• COBISS.SI-ID: 247655683
• Datum objave v RUL: 23.12.2025

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Energy research & social science
• Založnik: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2214-6326
• COBISS.SI-ID: 527289881

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: krožno gospodarstvo, razgradnja jedrskih elektrarn, kazalniki trajnosti, študija Delphi, odelovanje deležnikov, sodelovanje deležnikov

Projekti

• Financer: EC - European Commission
• Številka projekta: 101060028
• Naslov: HARmonised PracticEs, Regulations and Standards in waste management and decommissioning
• Akronim: HARPERS