Nuclear Decommissioning Market Summary
As per Market Research Future Analysis, the Global Nuclear Decommissioning Market was valued at USD 6.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 10.55 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 4.50% from 2024 to 2032. Key drivers include rising environmental sensitivity and public safety concerns regarding nuclear accidents. The market is segmented by reactor type, with PWR holding the largest share, and by strategy, where Immediate Dismantling is expected to grow rapidly. The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to experience the fastest growth due to political pressures to shut down reactors.
Key Market Trends & Highlights
The nuclear decommissioning market is witnessing significant growth driven by environmental concerns and regulatory pressures.
- Market size in 2023: USD 6.8 billion; projected to reach USD 10.55 billion by 2032.
- CAGR during 2024-2032: 4.50%; driven by increased environmental sensitivity.
- PWR reactors dominate the market; Immediate Dismantling is the fastest-growing strategy segment.
- Asia-Pacific expected to grow at the fastest CAGR due to political pressures.
Market Size & Forecast
2023 Market Size: USD 6.8 billion
2024 Market Size: USD 7.07 billion
2032 Market Size: USD 10.55 billion
CAGR (2024-2032): 4.50%
Largest Regional Market Share in 2021: Europe (USD 4.1 billion).
Major Players
Key players include GD Energy Services (Spain), AECOM (U.S.), EDF-CIDEN (U.K.), and EnergySolutions (U.S.).

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, Market Research Future Database and Analyst Review
Nuclear Decommissioning Market Trends
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Factors contributing to boost market growth of Nuclear Decommissioning
Increased demand for energy around the world has seen various alternative sources of energy to come up. Increased environmental considerations regarding ozone and greenhouse gases, which result in increased temperatures, have seen renewable sources to penetrate the energy production market.
Further, with nuclear energy present in some particular countries around the world and with the option of generating energy using other sources it will lower the risk of any mishappening using nuclear energy, which has seen the nuclear decommissioning time in these countries.
Additionally, the growing sensitivity towards environmental issues is expected to propel the growth of the nuclear power reactor decommissioning market going forward. Environmental sensitivity refers to the growing awareness of environmental issues. Decommissioning is the process of removing nuclear fuel from a nuclear power plant and assisting in the termination of operating licenses. Therefore, growing sensitivity towards environmental issues is driving the growth of the nuclear power reactor decommissioning market has ensured the nuclear decommissioning market CAGR across the globe in recent years and thus is the another factor driving the growth of the nuclear decommissioning market revenue.
Nuclear Decommissioning Market Segment Insights:
Nuclear Decommissioning Reactor Type Insights
The nuclear decommissioning market segmentation, based on reactor type, includes PWR, BWR, GCR, and others. PWR held the maximum share in the nuclear decommissioning market in 2021. Pressurized water reactors are highly preferred by industry operators due to their high level of stability and easy operations. This segment is also projected to show significant growth during the study period due to its wide use and installation. This will further contribute to the nuclear decommissioning market revenue.
- October 2022: the nuclear decommissioning authority (NDA) and the national decommissioning center (NDC) in the UK entered into a partnership to conduct and share research inputs on offshore decommissioning and oil & gas sectors. These facilities include various simulating offshore subsea operations in real-time to eradicate or install energy infrastructure.
- Octoberย 2022:ย The Korean government announced that it has begun the construction of its first nuclear decommissioning research institute in Ulsan by 2026. The institute will develop technologies to ensure the safe suspension of nuclear power plants and function as a comprehensive platform to advance radioactive waste analysis.
Nuclear Decommissioning Strategy Insights
The nuclear decommissioning market data has been bifurcated into Immediate, Deferred Dismantling, and others. The Immediate segment is expected to be the faster-growing segment during the study period, 2022-2030. The immediate dismantling segment will dominate the market for the early phase-out of nuclear power plants in Europe, particularly in Italy and Germany. ย This implants the positive impacts for the healthier market growth of nuclear decommissioning.
However, the global energy crisis continues to get worst, many nations have come to sense that nuclear power is a crucial component of their overall energy portfolio. As a result of the reduced levels of radiation produced by deferred dismantling in comparison to other ways, this market segment is estimated to experience a great rate of expansion over the period of projection.
- April: a new company, Toso Mirai Manufacturing, was introduced to balance reconstruction and decommissioning. Toso Mirai Manufacturing will build a decommissioning plant, adding to the safe & steady nuclear power decommissioning, with the planned production of spent fuel casks and fuel debris storage containers. This further widened the growth opportunity for the nuclear decommissioning industry.
Figure 2: Nuclear decommissioning market, by Surgery, 2021 & 2030 (USD Million)

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, Market Research Future Database and Analyst Review
Nuclear Decommissioning Capacity Insights
Based on capacity, the global nuclear decommissioning industry has been segmented into 800MW, 801MW-1000MW, above 1000MW and others. The up to 800MW segment is expected to take over the market in the forecast period for the pre-closure of nuclear power plants the capacities of which are under 800 MW in the European region. However, 801MW-1000MW is held the fastest growing segment in the Nuclear Decommissioning industry.
Nuclear Decommissioning Regional Insights
By Region, the record provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the ย Rest of the World. Europeโs nuclear decommissioning market accounted for USD 4.1 billion in 2021 and is expected to show a higher CAGR growth during the forecast period. This is The growing sensitivity towards environmental issues is expected to propel the growth of the nuclear power reactor decommissioning market going forward.
Further, the major countries studied in the market report are: The U.S, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.
Figure 3: NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2021 (%)

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, Market Research Future Database and Analyst Review
The Asia-Pacific nuclear decommissioning market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2022 to 2030. This is due to the increase political pressure to shut down nuclear power reactors before they are ready. South Korea and Japan are the nations in the Asia-Pacific region that have recently experienced nuclear decommissioning. Given that nuclear reactors & power plants will soon reach the end of their useful lives, China and India may present opportunities for the nuclear decommissioning business. ย
The North America nuclear decommissioning market is projected to have notable growth over the forecast period. The presence of many nuclear plants in the region that are going to shut for the safety of the environment and people, constant technological advances, support from the government to phase out nuclear plants, significant expansion, and increasing awareness regarding environmental protection are adding to the global market growth in the region. Further, U.S. nuclear decommissioning market held the largest market share, and the Canada nuclear decommissioning market was the fastest-growing market in that region.
However, strict government regulations may limit the expansion of the market to some extent during the study period.
For instance, the nuclear decommissioning market is larger worldwide with an expansion strategy that includes participation in environmental projects in many regions. The rise of nuclear decommissioning services in Japan and other Asian countries is likely to boost the market in Asia-Pacific during the study period.
Nuclear Decommissioning Key Market Players & Competitive Insights
Major market players are spending a lot of money on R&D to increase their product lines, which will help the nuclear decommissioning market grow even more. Participants are taking strategic measures to increase their traces worldwide, with key market developments such as new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, increased investments, and collaboration with other organizations. Competitors in the nuclear decommissioning industry must offer cost-effective items to expand and survive in an increasingly competitive and rising market environment.
One of the primary business strategies adopted by manufacturers in the global nuclear decommissioning industry to benefit clients and expand the market sector is to manufacture locally to reduce operating costs. The nuclear decommissioning market major player such as GD Energy Services Spain, AECOM U.S. and others are working to expand the market demand.
Grupo Dominguis Energy Services (GDES) founded in 1932 is an international business group based in Spain with leading in support services for operations, maintenance and decommissioning, surface treatment, logistics, energy efficiency and
AECOM became an independent company formed by the merger of five entities. While our official founding was in 1990, the company is committedโฏto strive forโฏbetter โ be thatโฏreducing emissions, creatingโฏsocial value or diversifying our senior leadership and workforce.
For Instance, AECOM Ranked #1 in transportation design, facilities design, green design and environmental engineering by Engineering News-Record in 2022.
List of the Key Companies in the Nuclear Decommissioning market includes
- Enercon Services Inc. (Germany)
- Babcock International Group PLC. (U.K.)
Nuclear Decommissioning Market Developments
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Q2 2024: UK Regulator Highlights International Collaboration on SMRs The UK nuclear regulator announced new international collaborations focused on the safe decommissioning of small modular reactors (SMRs), aiming to share best practices and regulatory standards for future decommissioning projects.
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Q2 2024: Hunterston B Defueling Completion Marks Start of Dismantling Phase Magnox Ltd confirmed the completion of defueling at Hunterston B nuclear power station, officially transitioning the site into the dismantling phase as part of the UK's nuclear decommissioning program.
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Q2 2024: Rosatom Unveils Liquid-Sodium Treatment for BN-Series Reactor Retirements Rosatom announced the deployment of a new liquid-sodium treatment technology to facilitate the decommissioning of BN-series fast breeder reactors, enabling safer and more efficient dismantling operations.
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Q2 2024: USS Enterprise Decommissioning Contract Awarded for $537 Million The US Navy awarded a $537 million contract for the decommissioning of the USS Enterprise, marking a major milestone in the nuclear-powered vessel decommissioning sector.
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Q2 2024: Finlandโs FiR1 Research Reactor Decommissioning Successfully Completed VTT announced the successful completion of the decommissioning of the FiR1 research reactor, marking the end of nuclear operations at the site and the transition to safe dismantling and waste management.
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Q1 2024: EDF Energy Begins Dismantling of Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station EDF Energy officially commenced the dismantling phase of Hinkley Point B, following the completion of defueling, as part of the UKโs ongoing nuclear decommissioning efforts.
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Q2 2024: NDA Announces New Partnership with International Atomic Energy Agency for Decommissioning Standards The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority announced a partnership with the IAEA to develop and harmonize international standards for nuclear facility decommissioning.
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Q2 2024: Orano Wins Contract for Dismantling of German Nuclear Facility Orano announced it has secured a contract to dismantle a major nuclear facility in Germany, expanding its footprint in the European decommissioning market.
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Q1 2024: Westinghouse Launches New Robotic System for Nuclear Decommissioning Westinghouse unveiled a new robotic system designed to improve safety and efficiency in nuclear decommissioning operations, targeting global markets.
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Q2 2024: Framatome Secures Multi-Year Contract for Reactor Dismantling in France Framatome announced the award of a multi-year contract to dismantle several reactors in France, reinforcing its position as a leading provider of nuclear decommissioning services.
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Q2 2024: GE Hitachi Signs Agreement to Support Decommissioning of Japanese Nuclear Plant GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy signed an agreement to provide technical support for the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant in Japan, expanding its international decommissioning portfolio.
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Q1 2024: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Begins Decommissioning of Whiteshell Laboratories Canadian Nuclear Laboratories announced the start of decommissioning activities at Whiteshell Laboratories, a major step in Canadaโs nuclear cleanup and site restoration efforts.
Nuclear Decommissioning Market Segmentation
Nuclear Decommissioning Reactor Type Outlook
Nuclear Decommissioning Strategy Outlook
Nuclear Decommissioning Capacity Outlook
Nuclear Decommissioning Regional Outlook
Attribute/Metric |
Details |
Market Size 2023 |
USD 6.8 billion |
Market Size 2024 |
USD 7.07 billion |
Market Size 2032 |
USD 10.55 billion |
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) |
4.50% (2024-2032) |
Base Year |
2023 |
Market Forecast Period |
2024-2032 |
Historical Data |
2018 & 2022 |
Market Forecast Units |
Value (USD Billion) |
Report Coverage |
Revenue Forecast, Market Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends |
Segments Covered |
Product Type, Operating Platforms, and Region |
Geographies Covered |
North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World |
Countries Covered |
The U.S, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil |
Key Companies Profiled |
GD Energy ServicesSpain), Enercon Services Inc. (Germany), EDF-CIDEN (U.K.), Nuvia Group (France), EnergySolutions (U.S.), Westinghouse Electric (U.S.), AECOM (U.S.), Studsvik AB (Sweden), Babcock International Group PLC. (U.K.) |
Key Market Opportunities |
Growing adoption of alternative sources of energy like solar power and gas-based |
Key Market Dynamics |
Increasing concerns for public safety Increasing concerns about sustainability, the trend to transition toward renewable energy |
Nuclear Decommissioning Market Highlights:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
The nuclear decommissioning market size was valued at USD 6.8 Billion in 2023.
The global market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.50% during the forecast period, 2024-2032.
Europe had the largest share in the global market
The key players in the market are GD Energy Services Spain), Enercon Services Inc. (Germany), EDF-CIDEN (U.K.), Nuvia Group (France), Babcock International Group PLC. (U.K.).
The pressurized water reactors (PWR) nuclear decommissioning category dominated the market in 2021.
The immediate dismantling had the largest share in the global market.