In the heart of Europe, a technological revolution is brewing, one that promises to reshape the nuclear energy sector and redefine the way we approach decommissioning. As the world grapples with the challenges of aging nuclear facilities, a consortium of European researchers and industry experts are harnessing the power of digital twins, ontology, and data exchange to make dismantling processes safer, more efficient, and cost-effective.
At the forefront of this innovation is Jacques Marie-Bénédicte, a researcher at Université Paris-Saclay and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), LIST. Marie-Bénédicte and his team are leading two groundbreaking projects, PLEIADES and DORADO, which are set to transform the nuclear decommissioning landscape.
The PLEIADES project, which wrapped up at the end of 2023, laid the groundwork for a more integrated and intelligent approach to decommissioning. The team developed a common ontology tailored specifically for nuclear decommissioning projects, a central server for combining data while ensuring compatibility, and a suite of digital tools for decommissioning and waste management support. “The PLEIADES project demonstrated the usefulness and efficiency of this concept using data from three real nuclear sites,” Marie-Bénédicte explains. “This is a significant step forward in making decommissioning processes more reliable and safe.”
But the innovation doesn’t stop there. Building on the success of PLEIADES, the DORADO project, set to begin in the second half of 2024, aims to create a holistic digital data-driven platform. This platform, a Building-Information-Model/Digital-Twin (BIM/DT), will integrate eight cutting-edge digital technologies, including point-cloud data, 3D models, change detection, sensor data fusion, ALARA dose estimation, robot mission optimization, and a smart voice assistant interface.
The implications for the energy sector are profound. As nuclear facilities around the world reach the end of their operational lives, the demand for efficient and safe decommissioning solutions will only grow. The digital tools and methods developed by Marie-Bénédicte and his team could significantly reduce the time, cost, and risk associated with these complex processes.
Moreover, the use of digital twins and ontology in decommissioning could pave the way for similar applications in other industries. From construction and manufacturing to healthcare and urban planning, the potential for these technologies to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability is vast.
The research was published in the European Physical Journal Nuclear Sciences & Technologies, translated from French as European Physical Journal Nuclear Sciences & Technologies. As the world watches, these European collaborations are not just dismantling nuclear facilities; they are building the future of decommissioning, one digital twin at a time. The stage is set for a new era in nuclear energy, and the world is watching.