Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management Market Size
Study Period | 2020 - 2029 |
Base Year For Estimation | 2023 |
CAGR | < 1.50 % |
Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
Largest Market | North America |
Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management Market Analysis
The spent fuel and nuclear waste management market is expected to record a CAGR of 1.5% during the forecast period, 2022-2027. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the market did not witness any major negative impact. The nuclear power plant has the ability to generate electricity with lower carbon emissions as compared to fossil fuels. Although the amount of waste generated by nuclear power is very small relative to other thermal electricity generation technologies, proper and safe management of nuclear waste is of utmost importance for the nuclear power plant operators. Factors such as increasing adoption of cleaner energy sources to meet carbon emission targets and nuclear plant life extensions due to supporting government policies are expected to drive the market. However, the high initial cost and a high payback period are likely to hinder the spent fuel and nuclear waste management market during the forecast period.
- The low-level waste segment dominated the market in the past and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period.
- Major countries in Middle East & Africa, accompanied by a few major companies, are investing in non-fossil fuel-based power generation technologies, especially in small nuclear reactors. Saudi Arabia plans to achieve 30-50% of local content for its nuclear program before 2030. Similarly, Jordan and a few more countries are in the initial phase of nuclear power plant construction, which is likely to provide an opportunity to grow the global spent fuel and nuclear waste management market in the coming future.
- Asia-Pacific is expected to witness significant growth in the global spent fuel and nuclear waste management market, owing to the presence of several major developing nations such as China and India.
Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management Market Trends
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Spent Fuel & Nuclear Waste Management Market according to our research experts:
Low-level Waste Expected to Dominate the Market
- Radioactive nuclear waste includes any material that is intrinsically radioactive or contaminated by radioactivity and deemed to have no further use. Low-level waste (LLW) generated from the nuclear fuel cycle has a radioactive content not exceeding 4 giga-becquerels per ton (GBq/t) of the alpha activity or 12 GBq/t beta-gamma activity. To reduce its volume, LLW is often compacted or incinerated before disposal.
- It does not require shielding during handling and transport, and it is suitable for disposal in near-surface facilities.
- The market studied is dominated by LLW, which comprises 90% of the volume but only 1% of the radioactivity of all radioactive waste. Management practices for the disposal of LLW (adopted or under consideration) encompass three main options, such as near-surface disposal, disposal in caverns at intermediate depth, and disposal in deep geological formations.
- As more than 90% of nuclear waste comes under the LLW category, more infrastructure is needed to store the radioactive waste properly and safely. Moreover, as nuclear power is getting popular due to clean and sustainable sources of energy, various countries are investing in nuclear power plants and related facilities, which is expected to drive the spent fuel and nuclear waste management market.
- Therefore, the long durability and a promising alternative for power generation in the form of nuclear-based power generation have been tremendously inflicting the demand for nuclear power plants globally.
- Furthermore, various power plants are under construction across the Asia-Pacific region, owing to the advantage and reliability offered by nuclear-based power generation. This, in turn, is driving the demand for the spent fuel and nuclear waste market.
- Therefore, owing to the above points, the low-level waste segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.
Asia-Pacific Expected to Witness Significant Growth
- Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market during the forecast period. In contrast to North America and Europe, where growth in electricity generating capacity, particularly nuclear power, has been limited for many years. Several countries in Asia are planning and building new nuclear power reactors to meet their increasing demand for clean electricity. China, Japan, South Korea, and India are the major countries that are expected to drive the spent fuel and nuclear waste management market in Asia-Pacific during the forecast period.
- China uses the most advanced technology and the most stringent standards for the development of nuclear power, and it strictly manages the entire life cycle of nuclear facilities from siting, design, construction, and operation, to waste management. As of February 2022, China has 54 nuclear power reactors in operation, 14 under construction, and more about to start construction. The combined capacity of operating nuclear power reactors in 2021 was 50.71 Gwe, which generated around 375 TWh of electricity in the same year, representing 4.9% of the total electricity generation in the country.
- The country plans to expand its nuclear reactors fleet in the coming years. As of June 2020, China had around 12 reactors with a combined capacity of 12.24 GWe and more than 50 GWe under construction and planned phases. In April 2020, the director of the Nuclear Safety Inspection Department at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment stated that all the 15 unfinished reactor units had resumed construction, and reactors that were already in operation were not affected due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- The Chinese nuclear sector is expected to continue to expand at robust rates, with capacity increasing by an annual average of 10.3% between 2018 and 2027, resulting in more than 95GW of installed nuclear capacity by the end of the next decade. This is in line with the ambitious aims of China to decarbonize its baseload generation and amass nuclear expertise to export. Hence, the volumes of waste are expected to be significantly greater than the existing waste from nuclear power plants, which may drive the market during the forecast period.
- Furthermore, according to the World Nuclear Association, the demand for uranium in the country is expected to be over 11,000 TU (with 58 reactors operating) in 2020, about 18,500 TU (for 100 reactors) in 2025, and about 24,000 TU (for 130 reactors) in 2030. As China rapidly increases the number of new reactors, a long-term policy is expected to be in place for fuel reprocessing and spent fuel storage, providing an impetus to the market studied.
- India had 6.885 GW of installed nuclear capacity at the end of 2021 and around 4.2 GW of net capacity under construction. India has shown significant interest in expanding its domestic nuclear sector as a means to meet the rapidly growing demand for electricity, lower emissions through the adoption of low-carbon power sources, and capitalize on its indigenous reserves of uranium and thorium.
- Therefore, owing to the above points, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness significant growth in the spent fuel and nuclear waste management market during the forecast period.
Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management Industry Overview
The spent fuel and nuclear waste management market is moderately consolidated due to few companies operating in the industry because of the complex technology. The key players in this market include Fluor Corporation, Bechtel Group Inc., Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Perma-Fix Environmental Services Inc., and Veolia Environnement SA.
Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management Market Leaders
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Fluor Corporation
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Bechtel Group Inc
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Westinghouse Electric Company LLC.
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Veolia Environnement SA
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Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management Market News
- The US Department of Energy, in August 2020, announced that it authorized the start of radioactive operations at the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) at its Savannah River Site (SRS). The first-of-a-kind facility is expected to process 31 million gallons of radioactive salt waste currently stored in underground tanks at the South Carolina location. The facility was designed and built and initially expected to be operated by Parsons Corporation. It is further expected to start normal operations later this year after hot commissioning is complete.
- In August 2021, the German utility companies PreussenElektra, RWE, ENBW, and Vattenfall signed a set of contracts with Orano for a total amount in excess of EUR 1 billion for the return of all the German nuclear waste still stored at the Orano la Hague plant.
Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Scope of the Study
1.2 Market Definition
1.3 Study Assumptions
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
4. MARKET OVERVIEW
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Market Size and Demand Forecast, in USD billion,until 2027
4.3 Recent Trends and Developments
4.4 Government Policies and Regulations
4.5 Market Dynamics
4.5.1 Drivers
4.5.2 Restraints
4.6 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
4.6.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
4.6.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers
4.6.3 Threat of New Entrants
4.6.4 Threat of Substitutes Products and Services
4.6.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION
5.1 Type
5.1.1 Low-level Waste
5.1.2 Intermediate-level Waste
5.1.3 High-level Waste
5.2 Source
5.2.1 Nuclear Fuel Cycle
5.2.1.1 Nuclear Power Reactors
5.2.1.2 Radioactive Mining, Milling, and Extracting Activities
5.2.2 Research, Medical, and Industrial Source
5.2.3 Military and Defense Programs
5.2.4 Other Sources
5.3 Geography
5.3.1 North America
5.3.2 Europe
5.3.3 Asia-Pacific
5.3.4 South America
5.3.5 Middle East & Africa
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements
6.2 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players
6.3 Company Profiles
6.3.1 Fluor Corporation
6.3.2 Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Toshiba)
6.3.3 Bechtel Group Inc.
6.3.4 Augean PLC
6.3.5 Perma-Fix Environmental Services Inc.
6.3.6 Agence Nationale pour la gestion des déchets radioactifs (ANDRA)
6.3.7 Veolia Environment SA
6.3.8 Studsvik AB
6.3.9 Enercon Services Inc.
6.3.10 EnergySolutions Inc.
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management Industry Segmentation
The spent fuel and nuclear waste management market report includes:
Type | |
Low-level Waste | |
Intermediate-level Waste | |
High-level Waste |
Source | ||||
| ||||
Research, Medical, and Industrial Source | ||||
Military and Defense Programs | ||||
Other Sources |
Geography | |
North America | |
Europe | |
Asia-Pacific | |
South America | |
Middle East & Africa |
Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management Market Research FAQs
What is the current Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Management Market size?
The Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Management Market is projected to register a CAGR of less than 1.5% during the forecast period (2024-2029)
Who are the key players in Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Management Market?
Fluor Corporation , Bechtel Group Inc, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC., Veolia Environnement SA and Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. are the major companies operating in the Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Management Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Management Market?
Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2029).
Which region has the biggest share in Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Management Market?
In 2024, the North America accounts for the largest market share in Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Management Market.
What years does this Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Management Market cover?
The report covers the Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Management Market historical market size for years: 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Management Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management Industry Report
Statistics for the 2024 Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Spent Fuel And Nuclear Waste Management analysis includes a market forecast outlook 2029 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.