EDF subsidiary Cyclife Sweden AB has shipped four steam generators from the Unterweser NPP in Germany, which is undergoing decommissioning, to its facility in Nyköping, Sweden, for recycling. Cyclife specialises in NPP decommissioning and waste management.
Removal of the four steam generators from the Unterweser plant began in mid-May 2025 and lasted four weeks. Each steam generators weighs some 300 tonnnes and is 20 metres in height.
In 2021, Cyclife was awarded a contract by PreussenElektra for the dismantling and disposal of 16 steam generators from Germany’s shuttered Unterweser, Grafenrheinfeld, Grohnde, and Brokdorf NPPs. Cyclife is responsible for the entire process, from collection, shipping, treatment and the future return of the processed waste.
About 20 years ago, Cyclife developed a process and facilities in Sweden for dismantling and disposing of steam generators providing a turn-key solution for nuclear operators with respect to retired metallic large components and scrap metal. This includes: their transport from customer or final depository; storage on Cyclife’s site before and after treatment; a volume reduction up to 95%; characterisation of secondary waste; associated analysis and conditioning of final packages, and eventually the management of metallic reusable ingots (characterisation, free-release and selling to conventional industries).
“After several months of preparation and coordination, the four steam generators have now arrived at our facility, where they will be processed with the aim of recycling a substantial proportion of the material in our new facility which is doubling our treatment capacity here in Sweden,” said Delphine Servot, managing director of Cyclife Sweden. “We worked closely with PreussenElektra throughout the project, from planning to execution, contributing expertise and resources to enable the safe and efficient transport and handling of the components.”
Michael Bongartz, member of the board of PreussenElektra, noted: “Following the successful shipment of the steam generators from our pilot plant in Unterweser to Sweden, we now look forward to working with Cyclife to transfer the lessons learned and experience to the upcoming steam generator projects. Upon reaching this key milestone, I would also like to express my gratitude to the on-site teams for their professionalism and collaborative spirit.”
PreussenElektra CEO Guido Knott said awarding the contract was a strategic decision to accelerate decommissioning. “This will enable us to leverage synergies across all sites and consistently apply the knowledge we have gained. With Cyclife’s proven expertise in managing complex decommissioning projects, this partnership sets a benchmark for safe and efficient implementation.”
To date, Cyclife Sweden has successfully processed more than 30 large components (steam generators, heat exchangers, etc) from Swedish, German, French and British nuclear power plants.
