Analysis of decommissioning work scope

A methodology is needed for the approximation of potential schedule shifts in nuclear power plant shutdown and the subsequent timing of the engineering and construction resources to support decommissioning. The main factors driving the nuclear industry toward premature shutdown are the following: (1) high operating and maintenance costs for nuclear facilities; (2) unknown future costs; (3) political opposition; (4) deterioration in plants resulting from old age; and (5) the increasingly competitive nature of generation by independent power producers in an unregulated industry. Our analysis of the potential decommissioning schedules was based on input from three major areas: utility interviews, public documents, and an analytical model. This analysis indicates that decommissioning activities will be the largest service need in the domestic nuclear market after 2015.