Supporting the Implementation of Robotics and Remote Systems in the Nuclear Back-End

Robotics and remote systems (RRS) are essential technologies for work in the radiation environments typically encountered in the nuclear back-end, such as in radioactive waste management and decommissioning. 

The Expert Group on the Application of Robotic and Remote Systems in the Nuclear Back-end (EGRRS) was established under the auspices of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) and the Committee on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations and Legacy Management (CDLM). It supports NEA member countries in optimising the development of national radioactive waste (RW) management and decommissioning programmes through the application of robotics and remote systems.

This second report aims to support further implementation of robotic and remote systems (RRS) in the nuclear back-end in order to minimise human exposure to the dangers and risk associated with decommissioning and nuclear waste handling, as well as to improve the nuclear back-end management through innovation. It reflects the programme of work of the group’s second mandate, which was structured into three work streams:

• Licensing – Perceived as one of the key challenges in the implementation of new technologies in nuclear environments compared to other industries.
• Benchmarking - Seen as a key enabler to find synergies among nuclear operators and accelerate the transition to remote systems to reduce risk to operators.
• Cost-benefit analysis - Needed as a systematic approach to evaluate different options and identify or build business cases for RRS implementation.

The EGRRS is convinced that implementation of robotics and remote systems will have a significant positive impact on the nuclear back-end management, making it possible to meet the challenges posed by the increasing number of nuclear projects foreseen in the upcoming decades.