Grafenrheinfeld nuclear reactor cooling towers experienced delayed demolition explosions.
The Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant has been out of commission for nine long years, and its dismantling process has been underway for six. Now, the demolition of the cooling towers is imminent. Yet, the explosion is yet to occur.
The decommissioned nuclear power plant in Grafenrheinfeld, Bavaria, witnessed the crumbling of its cooling towers with a deafening bang. Fifty years after its construction initiation, all that's left of the once-proud emblems of high-risk technology are two modest mounds of debris.
A minor disruption occurred before the explosion. A man ascended a power pole and was subsequently apprehended, delaying the explosion. The reasoning behind his actions remains enigmatic.
The specifics regarding the explosives required to bring down roughly 34,000 tons of reinforced concrete, metals, and plastics were kept secret by the responsible Thuringian explosives company. Similarly, details such as the number of holes to be drilled and filled with explosives remained undisclosed.
The Audience Gathers to Witness the Spectacle
As the two colossi toppled in a blink of an eye at twilight, a multitude of people gazed from the meadows and fields encircling the site near the Main. The area was cordoned off for safety reasons, and those eager to get closer had to trek or cycle, as the access roads were barricaded by the police.
The nuclear power plant situated south of Schweinfurt was Germany's oldest operational one until it was deactivated. Construction commenced in 1974, the first nuclear reaction occurred at the end of 1981, and power was fed into the grid in June 1982. It operated for 33 years until 2015. The dismantling process started in 2018 and is slated to continue for another ten years, as per project manager Matthias Aron.
The explosion served as a tangible symbol of the dismantling process, as per the facility operator Preussenelektra. Initially, the towers were scheduled to be demolished in ten years. The debris resulting from the explosion will initially be processed, with a considerable portion utilizing one of the two cooling tower basins. Both cooling towers stood 143 meters tall, with a base diameter of approximately 105 meters and a top diameter of roughly 64 meters.
Another Instance of Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Tower Demolition in Germany
According to Preussenelektra, this marked the second time in Germany that cooling towers of a decommissioned nuclear power plant underwent demolition. In May 2020, two cooling towers of the nuclear power plant in Baden-Württemberg's Philippsburg met a similar fate, although that event took place without public interest due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the demolition in Grafenrheinfeld, four of the five 380-kilovolt high-voltage lines converging in Grafenrheinfeld and essential for Europe's power supply had to be shut down. This was carried out to prevent operational interruptions caused by excessive dust.**
Despite the successful demolition of the cooling towers, concerns about radioactive materials persisted. The resulting debris was meticulously monitored and transported to a specialized nuclear waste facility for safe storage.
The Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant's demolition signified a significant step towards Germany's transition towards renewable energy sources, a commitment echoed by numerous other European countries.
