Europe’s nuclear decommissioning pipeline is valued at more than US$120bn, with roughly US$89bn already awarded, according to a new report from the Energy Industries Council (EIC) and Decom Mission.
The UK & Europe Late Life & Decommissioning Report shows that nuclear dismantling remains the region’s largest end-of-life market, while oil and gas decommissioning is expected to dominate near-term activity. The first wind farm removals are also starting across northern Europe, marking early overlap between renewable buildout and retirement cycles.
More than 130 nuclear reactors across Europe are either undergoing, preparing for, or scheduled for decommissioning under multi-decade programmes. The UK hosts the largest concentration of projects, led by Sellafield, Magnox, and Dounreay, followed by Germany and France.
Outside the UK, oil and gas decommissioning work across continental Europe totals about US$16.5bn, of which US$7bn has already been awarded. The largest portion involves plug and abandonment (P&A), the process of permanently sealing oil and gas wells, accounting for roughly half of total spend, followed by subsea and topsides removals.
In addition to this, total decommissioning expenditure in the UK North Sea is projected at around US£27bn (US$34bn) through 2032, much of it dependent on vessel and rig availability.
The report is the first in a quarterly global series jointly produced by EIC and Decom Mission. It tracks end-of-life activity across regions and sectors, analysing timing, supply chain capacity and project execution to support decision-making among operators, contractors and policymakers involved in decommissioning.
EIC is one of the world’s largest energy trade associations, providing project data, market intelligence, events and advocacy for supply chain businesses worldwide. Decom Mission is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to end-of-life and decommissioning across oil and gas, nuclear, renewables and power, representing asset owners, operators and suppliers across the value chain.
Beyond nuclear and oil and gas, dismantling of coal and refinery assets is beginning to gather momentum across Europe. Coal plant closures continue in southern and eastern Europe, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Poland. Meanwhile, refinery closedowns in the UK and western Europe are creating technically complex demolition work involving dismantling large interconnected units and handling contaminated materials.
The first generation of onshore and offshore wind farms, mainly in Germany, Denmark and the UK, is now entering removal phases. Those activities are beginning to compete with new wind construction for ports, heavy lift vessels and skilled crews, potentially tightening supply chain capacity in the years ahead.
Stuart Broadley, CEO of the Energy Industries Council, said: “End-of-life planning is now a strategic exercise. The same supply chain that dismantles ageing oil, gas and nuclear assets is also building the infrastructure of the energy transition. Securing vessel slots, skilled crews and waste handling capacity early is becoming critical to controlling cost and schedule.”
Sam Long, CEO of Decom Mission added: “Decommissioning is a growth market in its own right. As global energy systems evolve, the challenge is not only to retire assets safely but to do so efficiently and sustainably. Delivery depends on the availability of heavy lift vessels and specialised cranes, together with skilled workers and disciplined project management.”
To read the full report, visit: https://www.the-eic.com/MediaCentre/Publications/Reports
Notes to editors:
About EIC
The Energy Industries Council brings together over 950 companies from the energy supply chain sector across all industries.
Since 1943, we have evolved to provide up-to-date global market intelligence, unrivalled networking opportunities and direct engagement with policymakers across regions.
Our members – leading innovators, industry experts and global thinkers – are at the forefront of the energy transition.
Through our leading events, real-time project data and policy expertise, we help members capitalise on opportunities and scale their operations globally. Together, we are working towards a more sustainable future.