Deep Isolation has recently completed a two-year research demonstration project that was funded by the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
Through Project Sequential Advancement of Technology for Deep Borehole Disposal (Project SAVANT), Deep Isolation found that its Universal Center System and borehole casing materials can properly resist corrosion to store spent nuclear fuel, according to its Tuesday press release.
Along with a successful demonstration, the project also integrated supply chain research and cost estimation created in a partnership with the Electric Power Research Institute, Deep Isolation said. The findings underscore the opportunities to build domestic manufacturing routes for canisters and other materials that could expedite commercial readiness for future disposal facilities, the company added.
Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has issued an operating permit to Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) to run a new disposal facility for very low-level radioactive waste in Olkiluoto, Finland this week.
TVO said in its Tuesday press release that the new facility will reduce the need of expanding the operating waste repository. Until now, the very low-level waste has been deposited in the Olkiluoto operating repository for final disposal.
The facility will be located in the Olkiuoto nuclear power plant and close to the existing repository for low and intermediate-level waste. The operation of the new facility will not begin until 2028 at the earliest, TVO said.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed an executive order Jan. 5 to establish a state nuclear energy task force.
The Iowa Nuclear Energy Task Force will advise Reynolds, the state government and relevant agencies on the development of nuclear energy technologies in the state, according to the press release.
The task force will also explore opportunities to work with the federal government to support nuclear energy projects and policies in Iowa, assess emerging power technologies and engage with manufacturers and stakeholders to iron out supply chain issues, according to the release.