Nuclear Power Spent Fuel Storage Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032

The Nuclear Power Spent Fuel Storage Market size was estimated at USD 5.73 billion in 2025 and expected to reach USD 6.05 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 5.19% to reach USD 8.16 billion by 2032.

The management of spent nuclear fuel has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the nuclear power sector. As nuclear generation experiences renewed interest due to climate and energy security imperatives, the volume of spent fuel stored at reactor sites and independent facilities continues to rise, placing pressure on existing infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. Industry stakeholders must navigate a complex matrix of technical requirements, safety standards, and evolving policy directives to ensure that spent fuel is stored securely over decades, if not centuries.

Today, the United States holds more than 95,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel in storage across 79 sites, with approximately 2,000 metric tons added annually. This accumulation highlights the urgency of enhancing both wet pool and dry cask storage capabilities to maintain operational safety and public confidence. High burnup fuel programs are driving significant research on extended dry storage licensing, with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission considering extensions from current 20-year limits to potential 40-year authorizations based on new data from multi-year collaborative research led by the Department of Energy and the Electric Power Research Institute.

Meanwhile, industry leaders emphasize that resolving spent fuel logistics is critical to enabling the next generation of nuclear projects. Major power producers and reactor vendors acknowledge that without credible interim and long-term storage pathways, new reactor deployments face heightened permitting and community acceptance challenges. Within this context, understanding the landscape of spent fuel storage technologies and policies has never been more essential.

The spent nuclear fuel storage sector is undergoing rapid transformation driven by breakthroughs in materials science, system design, and regulatory modernization. A decisive shift from wet pool reliance toward modular dry storage casks has accelerated, as dry systems reduce dependency on active cooling and bolster passive safety. Industry-wide adoption of hybrid steel-concrete cask shells and advanced composite baskets has enhanced corrosion resistance and radiation shielding, while reducing structural weight to optimize transport and handling logistics. Concurrently, the integration of passive air-flow cooling mechanisms and vault-style configurations has set new performance benchmarks, minimizing maintenance needs and extending service life under a broader range of operating conditions.

On the policy front, streamlined licensing pathways and public-private partnerships are expediting the deployment of interim storage facilities, particularly for consolidated and centralized off-site sites. Digital monitoring platforms now enable real-time diagnostics of cask temperature, neutron flux, and structural integrity, improving transparency and regulatory oversight. Moreover, the industry’s high-burnup research initiatives are yielding data that inform extended storage authorizations beyond the traditional 20-year horizon, reinforcing confidence in multi-decadal containment strategies. Taken together, these technological and regulatory shifts are redefining what constitutes best practices in spent fuel management, creating a more resilient and flexible infrastructure for current and future reactor fleets.

In 2025, the United States implemented aggressive adjustments to Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, raising rates on imported steel and aluminum content from 25 percent to 50 percent, with the change effective as of June 4, 2025. This policy shift directly impacts the nuclear spent fuel storage supply chain, as dry cask systems and related components rely heavily on specialized steel alloys and aluminum deposits. Because the tariffs apply to derivative products as well, the cost base for canister fabrication, transport containers, and structural modules has increased substantially, challenging manufacturers to absorb higher material expenses or pass these costs onto customers.

Analyses from leading consultancy firms project that once fully implemented, these expanded tariffs could add over $22 billion to the cost of imported steel and aluminum goods, with an additional $29 billion burden for derivative products, including specialized nuclear storage hardware. Supply chains for critical cask components, such as multi-purpose canister shells and vault liners, are experiencing extended lead times due to re-sourcing efforts and domestic capacity constraints. Firms are reevaluating supplier networks, investing in local fabrication facilities, and negotiating alternative material specifications to mitigate tariff exposure and maintain project schedules. These cumulative tariff impacts underscore the importance of strategic supply chain resilience and cost containment in executing nuclear fuel storage programs on time and within budget.

Segmenting the nuclear spent fuel storage market by storage type reveals clear distinctions in technology adoption. Dry storage now commands leadership for longer-term containment due to its passive cooling features and minimal reliance on grid-dependent systems, whereas wet storage pools continue to serve as the primary initial cooling solution following reactor discharge. These segmentation dynamics inform how operators plan for capacity expansions and safety upgrades.

Offering segmentation further clarifies market behavior by distinguishing between system providers and service specialists. Dry cask manufacturers deliver engineered solutions encompassing casks, vaults, and transport modules, while service experts drive value through consolidation and repackaging, decommissioning and dismantling, ongoing monitoring and maintenance, and transportation logistics. These complementary roles shape integrated project development and lifecycle management.

Application-based segmentation separates on-site storage at individual reactor sites from off-site solutions designed for centralized storage or consolidated interim storage facilities. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision reinstating licenses for privately operated Texas and New Mexico off-site storage sites has bolstered interest in consolidated interim schemes, allowing utilities to alleviate pool saturation and improve operational flexibility.

Additional segmentation by reactor type highlights that pressurized water reactors dominate in the United States with 63 of the 94 operating units, followed by boiling water reactors at 31 units, while fast breeder and heavy water reactors constitute smaller but technically specialized niches globally. Furthermore, segmenting by fuel type underscores the dual-track approach of handling uranium oxide fuel assemblies, the primary form for most reactor fleets, alongside mixed oxide fuel, which plays a growing role in certain European and Asian markets where reprocessing supports partial core recycling initiatives.

Regional dynamics in spent nuclear fuel storage reflect divergent policy frameworks, infrastructure maturity, and future growth trajectories. In the Americas, the United States leads with a robust network of wet pools and independent spent fuel storage installations, complemented by renewed licensing efforts for off-site consolidated facilities. Canada’s progress toward siting a permanent deep geological repository further illustrates North American commitments to long-term storage solutions.

In Europe, Middle East & Africa, established nuclear nations in Western Europe are advancing their geological disposal programs, with Finland’s Onkalo repository entering its test run phase and Sweden’s repository construction underway, marking significant milestones for final disposal. Emerging nuclear markets in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa are investing in interim dry storage infrastructure to support new reactor builds, leveraging technology transfers from established vendors.

Asia-Pacific stands out for its rapid nuclear capacity expansion, especially in China, India, South Korea, and Japan. Off-site interim storage partnerships have become prominent in Japan following local pool saturation, while China’s centralized dry storage pilot projects demonstrate a strategic shift toward scalable interim solutions. Collectively, these regions illustrate how differing regulatory tempos, community engagement models, and technology adoption rates influence the deployment of spent fuel management systems.

Orano has solidified its position as a leading provider of dual-purpose cask systems, obtaining extensive approvals and certifications for its NUHOMS EOS dry storage system and its two-tiered MATRIX modules. Recent amendments have expanded allowable heat loads and reduced minimum cooling times, enabling utilities to transfer fuel assemblies with higher enrichments sooner after discharge. Orano’s TN Eagle dual-purpose cask further exemplifies innovation with its modular design compatible with transport, storage, and disposal requirements, meeting rigorous NRC and international safety standards. These developments underscore Orano’s commitment to integrated solutions spanning wet pool to deep geological stages.

Holtec International continues to lead global dry storage deployment with its HI-STORM family of multi-purpose canister-based systems. In 2024, Holtec completed incident-free loading campaigns at Diablo Canyon and delivered over 170 systems worldwide, reflecting the scalability and reliability of its solutions. Innovations such as the underground HI-STORM UMAX modules and the flood-and-wind-resistant HI-STORM FW variant address site-specific challenges, while its meta-mic‐HT neutron absorber and upcoming Extended HI-STORM design demonstrate ongoing R&D investments. Holtec’s extensive user-group network, patents portfolio, and turnkey project execution underline its strategic significance in the spent fuel sector.

Industry leaders must adopt a proactive and integrated strategy to thrive amid evolving technical and regulatory landscapes. First, expanding domestic fabrication and assembly capacity for steel and aluminum cask components can mitigate exposure to tariff volatility and reduce lead times. Establishing public-private partnerships and co-investment agreements will accelerate the commercialization of emerging storage solutions, including advanced composite materials and passive cooling vaults.

Second, utilities and vendors should engage early with regulatory bodies to shape extended dry storage licensing, leveraging new high-burnup research data to secure 40-year or longer authorizations. This engagement should include joint demonstration projects and data-sharing platforms that streamline safety reviews and build stakeholder confidence.

Third, organizations need to diversify their storage portfolios by balancing wet pool expansions with modular dry storage deployments both on-site and at centralized interim facilities. Integrating digital monitoring and predictive maintenance technologies will further enhance operational visibility and support evidence-based decision-making.

Finally, supply chain resilience should be reinforced through multi-sourcing strategies, regional inventory hubs, and materials substitution studies. By adopting these initiatives, industry leaders can maintain project schedules, control costs, and deliver long-term storage solutions that align with national energy and environmental objectives.

This report’s findings are grounded in a comprehensive research framework that combines detailed secondary analysis with targeted primary engagements. Secondary sources include technical reports from national regulatory agencies, peer-reviewed research, company press releases, and reputable news outlets, ensuring a robust evidentiary base. Key decision criteria and industry trends were cross-validated against subject-matter expert publications and official government data portals.

Primary research comprised structured interviews with senior executives, technical directors, and project managers across utilities, storage system vendors, and regulatory bodies. These discussions provided proprietary insights into evolving business models, technology adoption challenges, and strategic roadmaps. Data points were rigorously triangulated to confirm consistency and reliability across different sources.

Quantitative data collection focused on tariff rates, licensing timelines, and technology adoption metrics, while qualitative analysis captured stakeholder sentiment, policy drivers, and innovation readiness. The methodology emphasizes transparency, reproducibility, and continuous validation, enabling stakeholders to trust the report’s conclusions and recommendations as a solid foundation for strategic planning.

The spent nuclear fuel storage market stands at a pivotal crossroads. Breakthroughs in materials, system design, and digital monitoring are converging with policy advancements to redefine best practices for both wet and dry storage. However, these opportunities coexist with challenges such as heightened tariff burdens, complex licensing processes, and supply chain uncertainties.

Major service and system providers like Orano and Holtec International are launching differentiated solutions that address heat-load management, footprint optimization, and multi-purpose flexibility. Meanwhile, strategic segmentation across storage types, offerings, applications, reactor categories, and fuel variants provides a nuanced lens for tailoring investment and operational decisions.

Regional variations underscore the importance of context-sensitive strategies: North America’s robust ISFSI network must adapt to off-site interim storage schemes; Europe and Africa are advancing deep geological repositories; and Asia-Pacific’s expanding fleet demands scalable interim solutions. Effective leadership will require synchronized efforts in regulatory engagement, technical innovation, and supply chain fortification.

By leveraging the data-driven insights and actionable recommendations presented herein, stakeholders can confidently navigate the complexity of spent fuel management and position their organizations to support the sustainable growth of nuclear energy for decades to come.

Don’t let uncertainty slow your strategic planning for nuclear spent fuel storage. To gain a competitive edge, connect with Ketan Rohom, Associate Director, Sales & Marketing at 360iResearch, to acquire the full market research report and explore tailored insights that address your organization’s specific needs.