Radioactive waste disposal startup Deep Isolation said Monday it has inked a cooperative agreement with spent nuclear fuel storage and transportation provider NAC International.
The agreement covers collaboration in designing, developing, and producing Deep Isolation’s canister technology for disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, according to a press release from the Berkeley, Calif., company.
“Leveraging NAC’s dry fuel storage technologies, the two companies will collaborate to advance the technical aspects of Deep Isolation’s current solution design for canister storage, disposal, and equipment for the transfer of SNF and HLW from existing storage areas to a Deep Isolation repository,” the release says.
The announcement comes less than five months after Berkeley, Calif.-based Deep Isolation announced a memorandum of understanding with Bechtel, a major player in the Department of Energy nuclear complex. That deal commits Bechtel to providing project management, business, and engineering support to Deep Isolation, which in turn would support Bechtel environmental remediation programs for the federal government.
Founded in 2016, Deep Isolation offers a patented system for directional drilling for temporary storage or permanent disposal of radioactive waste.
NAC International, established in 1968, offers various systems for storage and transportation of used nuclear fuel, along with consulting services. The Peachtree Corners, Ga.-based company was acquired by Japanese engineering firm Hitachi Zosen in 2013. It is partnering on International Storage Partners’ planned consolidated interim spent fuel storage facility in West Texas.
“NAC welcomes this opportunity to work with Deep Isolation and its partners in the development of a safe and efficient integrated waste management solution that is greatly needed by the nuclear industry worldwide,” NAC President and CEO Kent Cole said in the release. “NAC’s technology and knowhow fit well with Deep Isolation’s solution to ensure storage, transport, and disposal objectives are well integrated into efficient waste disposition strategies, tailored to the relative size and needs of each country’s nuclear power program.”
