In September 2021, the Japanese government launched an unprecedented international challenge to find solutions to facilitate the separation of tritium in treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. More than 140 consortia and companies from around the world responded to the call, starting a global technical competition. Of the proposals received, approximately 40 passed the first technical filter in December 2021 and, after a rigorous selection, Only seven international consortia accessed the actual technical data of the site in March 2022.
Among the seven finalists, a Spanish consortium made up of Naturgy, Ensa, Enwesa, Seys and Nucleantech stands out, being the only European representative to continue in the process. This fact underlines the technological capacity and experience of Spanish companies in the nuclear and energy sector.
Naturgy plays a strategic role in the consortium, being responsible for the characterization of the waste generated and the design of solutions for its management and recovery. The Spanish proposal is based on concentrating tritium from half a million liters of water per day in a single safe and traceable tank, using cellulose as an advanced absorbent. This technology allows the volume of waste to be reduced by a factor of 1,000, greatly simplifying management and logistics compared to traditional methods.
The solution presented by the Spanish consortium also stands out for its modular, safe and automated design, complying with Japanese regulatory requirements, the IAEA and ISO standards. Their model is applicable not only to Fukushima, but also to future international facilities, constituting a replicable and scalable industrial platform.
The ability to capture and concentrate tritium in a single tank, with minimal generation of secondary waste, represents a revolution in tritium management worldwide. This technology, developed entirely in Spain by a public-private consortium, aspires to become a new international standard in the treatment of tritium in the nuclear industry.
The great disaster in Japan in 2011
On March 11, 2011, the northeast coast of Japan was shaken by the largest earthquake recorded in the history of that country, followed by a tsunami whose waves reached over 43 meters in height, destroying everything in its path. The catastrophe caused thousands of deaths and missing people, destroyed the Fukushima nuclear power plant and caused the dispersion of radioactive materials, massive population displacements and enormous economic losses. As a consequence, Japan decided to accelerate the closure of all its nuclear power plants.
Japan was also the country that proposed at the United Nations the creation of a date that would remind the world of the importance of being prepared and reducing the risks from the effects of tsunamis. And since 2015, On November 5, World Tsunami Awareness Day is commemorated around the world. that originate from a vertical movement of the seabed, with the consequent displacement of the mass of water.
Tsunamis are rare, but they are among the deadliest and most devastating disasters. Additionally, with sea level rise due to climate change, tsunami waves may now have a greater range. The United Nations estimates that a 24-hour early warning can reduce damage by up to 30%. Hence the importance of being prepared and having warning systems that protect people’s lives and allow the damage caused to be alleviated.