The Customer Challenge
The process of producing electricity at EDF power stations involves the use of desiccants which become tritium activated. As a result, they are exchanged regularly on a planned maintenance basis. On-site radioactive waste storage space is limited so EDF needed to develop a cost-effective and sustainable process and supply chain that would facilitate regulated treatment of the activated desiccant - rendering it suitable for off-site disposal at a suitable repository or other innovative final treatment.
The Tradebe Inutec Solution
Working collaboratively, EDF and Tradebe Inutec developed a desiccant washing and encapsulation process, producing a waste package which is transportable under UK regulations and meets the waste acceptance criteria of the LLWR. Following successful trials, a processing plant was installed at Tradebe Inutec’s Winfrith facility which is still in operation.
The EDF and Tradebe team have worked closely to innovate the process towards incineration at Fawley, a solution that meets the changing UK regulatory framework, best practice and sustainability objectives. This will result in future arisings being diverted away from the LLWR in line with the UK waste hierarchy.
Value to Customers
Since installation of the treatment plant at our Winfrith Facility, Tradebe Inutec has successfully washed and disposed of more than 300m3 of encapsulated desiccant to the LLWR. Following this successful collaboration, EDF are now utilising a direct incineration route for desiccant, that has recently seen desiccant from Dungeness B incinerated at the Tradebe Fawley site.
This has resulted in three key wins for EDF, freeing up significant storage space, the realisation of internally focused KPI’s and meeting the aspirations of the UK regulator in safely and compliantly disposing of radioactive waste.