Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant (NY), a case study for nuclear adaptive reuse

“ Power plants have a number of qualities that make them ideal for redevelopment. The design style of older power plants makes them attractive for reuse from an aesthetic or historical perspective. They were constructed with large turbine generator halls mainly because they were steam cycle based, which required large buildings. These large spaces present opportunities for a variety of reuse options. The large open spaces make old power plants ideal for conversion into museums and exhibit halls, but the options should not be limited to museums and heritage facilities.” (IAEA, Redevelopment and reuse of nuclear facilities and sites: case histories and lessons learned, 2011, p.24) 

PDM_Nuclear power and the City_Theoritical Master Thesis

Dans les prochaines décennies, un grand nombre de centrales nucléaires atteindront leur fin de vie programmée et exigeront un démantèlement. Plusieurs d’entre elles seront démantelées selon plusieurs options: soit pour les remplacer par de nouvelles infrastructures ayant la même fonction, soit pour rendre leur terre à la nature, soit pour réutiliser ce lieu suivant un nouvel usage. En reconnaissant et valorisant le potentiel de reconversion de ces infrastructures, il sera possible, dans un futur proche et dans une perspective durable, de réaménager des espaces intéressants pour la périphérie de nos villes. Ce processus de « recyclage » aboutira à la réduction des dépenses de démantèlement et des impacts socioéconomiques sur la population locale. Elle conduira entre autres à une meilleure utilisation des matériaux, des terres et des ressources humaines, tout en développant une nouvelle relation entre la ville et cet objet fascinant, la centrale nucléaire.

Nuclear City, PDM 11 "where are you?"

« Power plants have solid structures and are usually situated along lakes and/or rivers or have large sources of water available. The buildings have large floor space and height, making them ideal for reuse options such as museums, aquariums, restaurants, offices, hotels, libraries, science and technology centres, arts centres, industrial manufacturing facilities and stations for public transportation systems. Any number of these options may be combined. […] Redevelopment and reuse options influence the decommissioning endpoints, especially for museums or heritage facilities. In industrial museums, most of the equipment (e.g. power generators, control systems) are to be kept in the original state, and decommissioning includes cleanup actions and restoration options, but not necessarily the dismantling and demolishing of equipment and parts of buildings. The architectural scale and open spaces of former power plants are well suited for use as museums. » (IAEA, Redevelopment and reuse of nuclear facilities and sites: case histories and lessons learned, 2011, p.29)

Nuclear City, PDM 11 "coming soon"

«As a nuclear power - as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon - the United States has a moral responsibility to act.»

Barack Obama

The energy is certainly one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. Nuclear power has long been an energetic response to this dilemma. In fact, this is a way to create energy without CO2 excess emission by maintaining a good performance. However, since the nuclear accident in Fukushima, the atom is in question. Several countries around the world, like Switzerland and Germany have begun some programs to dismantle nuclear facilities.

Dismantling a nuclear plant is in most cases total: it disappears as quickly as it appeared. In retrospect, what were the consequences of urban, social, political and territorial settlement of the nuclear infrastructure? Then, considering that zero risk does not exist. What will become the standards for implementation and security? Is there not an alternative than to destroy them? Can we possibly imagine their conversion through others programs?