Copyright Interesting Engineering
Finnish energy companies Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) and Rauman Biovoima Oy have announced a new venture to recycle waste from the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant. The project will send maintenance waste from Olkiluoto to Rauman Biovoima’s combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Rauma for energy production. This marks the first time that nuclear power plant waste of this type will be recycled in Finland. The pilot batch of waste is scheduled for transfer from Olkiluoto to Rauman Biovoima by the end of November. TVO operates the three-unit Olkiluoto plant in southwest Finland. The project aims to reduce the environmental footprint of waste and turn materials previously sent to landfill into useful energy. Recycling nuclear plant waste safely The waste involved in this project is exempt from radiation control and has been declared safe for people and the environment. It includes items such as overalls, gloves, and plastic coverings. Materials unsuitable for incineration are removed before transfer. “The benefit of the new operating model is that the waste can now for the first time be reclaimed for reuse through burning it for energy,” TVO stated. Previously, similar waste was buried, which was more expensive and required land resources. By recycling the waste, the companies can save costs and reduce land use. TVO estimates that Olkiluoto produces about 30–80 cubic meters of maintenance waste suitable for incineration every year. Pilot batch to test new method The initiative will start with a pilot batch of just under ten cubic meters by the end of the year. No modifications or special measures are needed at the Rauman Biovoima CHP plant to handle the waste. It will be treated as any other recycled fuel, alongside the plant’s normal inputs of wood-based materials. “The acceptance of maintenance waste exempt from control excellently supports Rauman Biovoima’s systematic work as a promoter of the circular economy and sustainable production,” noted Markus Pyykönen, Managing Director of Rauman Biovoima. The Rauman Biovoima CHP plant produces electricity, process steam, and district heat. Its main fuels are wood, logging residues, and waste from the forest industry. The plant supplies almost all the district heat needed in the city of Rauma and also supports a local paper mill. A step toward circular energy use This cooperation between TVO and Rauman Biovoima highlights a shift in Finland toward more sustainable energy and waste management practices. The project demonstrates that even waste from nuclear power plants can be safely reused when handled correctly. The new process will help increase overall waste utilization and reduce reliance on landfills. TVO said that by converting maintenance waste into energy, the venture aligns with broader goals of resource efficiency and sustainability. The method has been approved by Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) and follows official guidelines for safe treatment of this type of waste. With the pilot batch starting later this year, the project will provide a model for other nuclear facilities to consider similar solutions. It also shows how industrial byproducts, once considered a disposal challenge, can become part of the energy cycle.
