Lazykina, A. (2022). Applying the concept of circular economy in the nuclear sector: an analysis based on two examples: resource extraction and nuclear decommissioning [Master Thesis, Technische Universität Wien; Diplomatische Akademie Wien, ETIA-Lehrgang]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2022.102340
With every year, resource consumption in Europe and across the globe is increasing, alongside with the growing worldwide demand. Especially in areas that are sensitive from an ecological point, this development is adding additional pressure on the challenges that climate change, biodiversity loss and soil degradation are already causing. Solutions needs to be found and decisions need to be made in order to mitigate the ongoing damage to our environment. Additionally, consumption patterns need to change so that a more sustainable and efficient resource use can be achieved. Two potential solutions for the above-mentioned challenge could be the switch to an increasingly more circular economy, as well as the transition to non-fossil energy carriers. In early January 2022 the European Commission submitted a proposal to its Member States, which classifies nuclear as a sustainable investment. Since no CO2 emissions are produced during energy generation in a nuclear power plant, nuclear energy could support the EU target to become climate neutral by 2050. However, one has to keep in mind that a nuclear “renaissance” will not be possible without a sound and collaborative decommissioning industry.This work will examine to which extent the concept of circular economy can be applied in the nuclear sector, based on two examples, the uranium resource extraction side, since mining processes are quite energy consuming and have several long lasting impacts on the environment, as well as from the end of life site of the nuclear power fleet itself, due to the fact that in Europe alone it is planned to decommission a significant number of nuclear power plants, keeping in mind that most of the current nuclear power plants that will have to be decommissioned soon, were built where almost no consideration was given to sustainable or circular decommissioning. Difficulties and obstacles will be pointed out and possible solutions will be provided.