Overview

Nuclear decommissioning projects encompass all technical and management actions associated with ceasing operation of a nuclear installation and its subsequent dismantling to remove it from regulatory control, including the environmental remediation of the site.

Nuclear decommissioning is an activity that is expected to expand in the European Union: the Industry needs highly motivated, qualified and experienced personnel in the near future.

The ELINDER project addresses students and young or experienced professionals who want to pursue a career in this expanding field. It offers a training programme in nuclear decommissioning, split into a set of complementary modules starting from a generic introduction to nuclear decommissioning to specific courses focusing on the different decommissioning activities.

Approach

Each ELINDER module includes lectures, practical hands-on exercises and case studies at the premises of the organising partners and visits to relevant facilities in the vicinity.

Training modules:

• 'Generic training module' (one week): a general introduction to the main aspects of nuclear decommissioning
• 'Specific, topical training modules': focus on one topic linked to decommissioning
• Complementary 'e-learning induction training modules' are proposed to allow becoming familiar with the subject before participating to training in decommissioning

Courses-audience

The minimum required education level is by default for all courses European Qualifications Framework (EQF) level 6, corresponding to a Bachelor Degree or equivalent. For some courses a minimum education level EQF level 7 is required, corresponding to a Master Degree or equivalent.

For each course the prerequisite knowledge in nuclear technology is ranked as such:

1. Limited knowledge about nuclear technologies, no real practical experience in the nuclear field,
2. General knowledge about nuclear technologies, at least one year of experience in the field, no experience in decommissioning,
3. Good knowledge about nuclear technologies, at least one year of experience in decommissioning activities,
4. Good knowledge about nuclear technologies, at least few years of experience in decommissioning activities.

Courses - training opportunities

ELINDER offers the following training opportunities:

Generic training modules as introduction to decommissioning
General introduction to decommissioning, relevant regulation and standards, status of the play, experience feedback, waste management approaches, technical and organisational topics, radiation safety issues, stakeholder involvement experiences (a modules G1 to G5 have basically the same learning outcomes), like:

• G1 Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK•CEN (B)
• G2 Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, STUBA (SK)
• G3 French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, CEA (F)
• G4 Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT (D)
• G5 Joint Research Centre, JRC

Specific, topical training modules for a specialisation in decommissioning

• Decommissioning planning and cost assessment
• Licensing and environmental impact assessment
• Decommissioning safety
• Programme and project management
• Material and waste for decommissioning
• Decontamination and Dismantling techniques
• Metrology for Waste Characterisation and Clearance
• Environmental remediation and site release