Re: Design life
Indeed. Look at the enormous issue of decommissioning nuclear plants. Huge amounts of waste to deal with, some normal, some radioactive.
The NHS probably produces more radioactive waste than our nuclear industry. All those patients given thyroid treatments and having to poop their radioactive waste into containers for safe disposal. Nuclear plants practically aren't that difficult. Shut it down, manage the heat from any decay, lock it up with big 'KEEP OUT!' signs until radioactive decay does it's thing and drops to safe levels. Which would be even easier if 'safe' levels were redefined. But the nuclear industry is rightly safety paranoid. Bigger problem is overcoming decades of radiation FUD from our ecofreaks who don't understand they're getting more radiation exposure standing outside an NPP than they would inside.
Oh, and what about solar panels? Disposing of those is rather more challenging because of the toxic materials used in them. And of course producing them, but that's done overseas, so not a problem for our 'environmentally conscious' ecofreaks.