IT & DIGITAL | 4D PLANNING
Curbing overspend, waste and risk
Large nuclear projects are notorious for overspend and delays during construction. However, the latest 4D tools, powered by AI, are proving fundamental to smooth project planning.
By Dan Ashton, programme and project services director, Proicere Digital
Poor planning can make a significant contribution to cost increases in the construction of nuclear power plants. Source: Balfour Beatty
SIGNIFICANT OVERSPEND AND DELAYS appear to be the norm rather than the exception for nuclear construction projects, certainly in Europe. In France, for example, Flamanville-3 was expected to take five years but took 17, costing four times more than the first estimate. While this example may be an outlier it is not alone. It does seem that, in the western hemisphere at least, the industry struggles to get a grip of costs and schedules. Addressing this is crucial, as construction costs
impact the economic viability and environmental sustainability of nuclear energy. Conversely, the inability to control those costs harms the reputation of the industry. As author Dr. Tim Gregory points out in his book ‘Going Nuclear’: “Delays and price hikes like these make nuclear power look farcical. They shake the confidence of politicians, investors, and citizens, which may scupper our chances of ever reaching net zero.”
18 | June 2026 |
www.neimagazine.com
The impact of poor planning Nuclear energy has significant potential to help meet emissions and net zero targets, but to generate the return on investment and a comfortable, comparable net decrease in emissions within a reactor’s 60-year lifetime, smooth project delivery will be critical. Poor planning contributes significantly to cost increases in the construction of nuclear energy plants. Examples include inaccurate budgeting and inadequate assessment of risks specific to nuclear projects. Nuclear projects are unique for their complexity and the level of regulatory compliance needed. They invariably involve long build times, hundreds of site workers, large machinery, a constant flow of people, materials and equipment in and out of confined spaces, through narrow access points. Manoeuvres involving exceptional loads and radioactive materials require
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