After life of Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear power plants were made to have a life span of 40-50 years of operation.  However unforeseen cost of other competitive power generating plants and rapid technology advancement, older generation nuclear power plants are not economically feasible, leading to early process of decommissioning.  The process of decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants are well thought-out by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. However, it is life after decommissioned, no future plans are expected, leaving the skeleton of the nuclear plant into ghost lands, impacting the economy, community and environment of the local city.  This thesis will set precedence for future methods of redefining the site after the life of decommissioned nuclear power plants.

IM cooling tower at an abandoned power plant in Belgium – Matt Emmett/Forgotten Heritage Photography