Modular Circular Economy in Energy Infrastructure Projects: Enabling Factors and Barriers

Abstract

There is a growing body of literature surrounding circular economy (CE) and energy infrastructure projects. Most of this literature focuses on CE initiatives related to material recovering and recycling. The body of knowledge about reusing components is limited and mostly related to the need for reusing rather than providing solutions on how to reuse components. Modularization can be a step towards a solution, enabling entire modules or their components to retain their functionality in other infrastructures. Leveraging 23 semistructured interviews with nuclear and oil and gas experts, mainly based in the UK and US with international experience, this paper deals with the link between modularization and CE (defined modular CE) to identify enabling factors and barriers for the reuse of modules or their components. Relevant enabling factors are the monitoring of module and component conditions, standardization of module and component designs, and early planning. Relevant barriers are the lack of a second-hand market, economics, and regulatory challenges. The results are relevant to the stakeholders involved in planning, building, operating, and decommissioning energy infrastructures.