A company promoting deep borehole technology for nuclear waste has announced plans to work with a company developing plans for underground nuclear reactors, according to a press release.
Deep Isolation has agreed in a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in the management of spent nuclear fuel from Deep Fission’s advanced underground reactors.
Deep Fission, a nuclear energy startup working on placing its 15 megawatt small modular reactors a mile underground, The company is working on pre-application filings with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for licensing its first reactor.
Under the MOU, Deep Fission will study Deep Isolation’s deep borehole nuclear waste technology to explore a long-term solution for nuclear waste management.
The two California-based companies agreed to ensure a “comprehensive approach to the full nuclear fuel cycle,” as stated in their joint April 3 press release.
“Nuclear power generation requires a waste disposal solution, and responsible users should plan for waste management from the start,” said Elizabeth Muller, Deep Fission co-founder and CEO, who is also the co-founder, former CEO and current chairman of Deep Isolation, in the press release.
Deep Isolation says its boreholes bury the waste deeper than most international repository proposals of the past, and also does not require disposal workers underground.
