Dounreay

Dounreay is a decommissioned nuclear research site located on the north coast of Scotland. It is near the town of Thurso, in the county of Caithness. The site was operational from the 1950s until the early 1990s and was primarily used for research and development of nuclear reactors and fuel cycle technologies.

History

Dounreay was established in 1955 by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). The site was chosen due to its remote location, which was considered ideal for nuclear experiments. The first nuclear reactor at Dounreay, the Dounreay Materials Test Reactor (DMTR), went critical in 1958.

In the 1960s and 1970s, two additional reactors were built at Dounreay: the Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR) and the Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR). These reactors were used to test the feasibility of fast breeder reactor technology, which aims to produce more nuclear fuel than it consumes.

The site was decommissioned in the early 1990s, and the process of dismantling the reactors and cleaning up the site is ongoing. The decommissioning process is managed by Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL), a subsidiary of the Cavendish Dounreay Partnership.

Decommissioning

The decommissioning of Dounreay is a complex and challenging process. It involves the dismantling of the reactors, the treatment and disposal of radioactive waste, and the remediation of contaminated land. The decommissioning process is expected to be completed by 2033.

Legacy

Dounreay has left a significant legacy in the field of nuclear research and development. The site was at the forefront of fast breeder reactor technology, and the knowledge and expertise developed at Dounreay have contributed to the advancement of nuclear technology worldwide.

See also

• Nuclear power in the United Kingdom
• Nuclear decommissioning
• Fast breeder reactor