LONDON, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Deep borehole
disposal is a viable, cost-effective solution for all of the
high-level and intermediate-level long-lived nuclear waste that's
being temporarily stored by five countries, according to a
feasibility study by Deep Isolation published today by Norwegian
Nuclear Decommissioning (NND).
The study was commissioned by NND on behalf of the ERDO
Association, a multinational group established in 2021 to address
the challenges of safely managing long-lived radioactive wastes
either separately or in one combined mined repository.
Deep Isolation's study expands upon existing ERDO research —
presented to the International Atomic Energy Agency in November —
that concluded that deep borehole disposal is "a technically
feasible concept that adds to the range of technologies available
for waste management organizations," offering "lower fixed costs
and greater adaptability to small inventories." The Deep Isolation
study confirms this in relation to 100 percent of the
heat-generating high-level waste, and certain amounts of
intermediate-level long-lived waste in the ERDO countries,
estimating that a deep borehole repository would cost one-third to
one-half of the cost of a traditional mined repository.
The participating countries — Croatia, Denmark, the
Netherlands, Norway and
Slovenia — would still need
additional disposal solutions (such as shallow land disposal
facilities and/or mined repositories) for bulkier
intermediate-level waste. But, by managing all heat-generating
high-level waste at far greater depths in boreholes that don't
require humans to work underground, governments could achieve
significant cost reductions and increased safety standards.
For NND, the study provides useful input to an ongoing concept
choice study regarding disposal options for Norwegian radioactive
waste. No decisions on deep borehole disposal or alternative
options have been made in Norway.
Overall, Deep borehole disposal offers other significant benefits,
including: greater location flexibility, faster implementation, and
reduced financial risk because drilling costs are known.
"The nuclear industry has long suffered from a lack of safe,
affordable nuclear waste disposal solutions," said Liz Muller, Deep Isolation CEO. "I commend
the ERDO countries for exploring an option that leverages
well-established directional drilling technologies to offer a more
viable way forward. This is important not just for clearing up the
legacy of nuclear waste being stored in temporary facilities
worldwide but also for our global low-carbon future. Governments as
well as the public increasingly recognize that safely isolating
nuclear waste in permanent disposal is a prerequisite for new
nuclear power, including advanced reactors."
CONTACT: Kari Hulac,
kari@deepisolation.com