Dounreay PFR Decommissioning
Dounreay, Caithness, Scotland, UK · Operations 1975-1994, Decommissioning ongoing · Part of overall Dounreay site decommissioning budget
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchSuccessful removal of the sodium coolant heel from the reactor vessel, a significant hazard reduction achievement. - Lessons learned from DFR and PFR decommissioning shared with international partners (e.g., Japan's Monju reactor). - Highlights the specialized engineering and long-term commitment required for fast reactor decommissioning.
Key engineering challenges
Decommissioning a Prototype Fast Reactor, including the removal of large quantities of radioactive sodium coolant. - Dismantling complex reactor internals and associated systems. - Managing the long-term legacy of a pioneering nuclear research facility. - Ensuring safe handling and disposal of unique radioactive waste streams.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL)
- Lead contractor
- Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL)
- Lead designers
- —
- Project type
- decommissioning
- Scale
- 234 MWe (Prototype Fast Reactor), removal of ~1.7 tonnes of radioactive sodium coolant
- Disciplines
- nuclear; mechanical; chemical; civil; waste management; remote handling
- Standards & frameworks
- ONR
Sources: World Nuclear Association: Dounreay PFR (https://world-nuclear.org/nuclear-reactor-database/details/Dounreay-PFR) - NEI Magazine: Sodium success story at Dounreay's PFR (https://www.neimagazine.com/advanced-reactorsfusion/sodium-success-story-at-dounreays-pfr-9408761/) - GOV.UK: World first process achieves significant hazard reduction at Dounreay (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/world-first-process-achieves-significant-hazard-reduction-at-dounreay) - NDA Blog: Dounreay learning shared at Japanese fast reactor (https://nda.blog.gov.uk/dounreay-learning-shared-at-japanese-fast-reactor/) - INIS-IAEA: Description of the prototype fast reactor at Dounreay (https://inis.iaea.org/records/jnwwf-f7j05)