Implementation of Radioactive Waste Disposal in Switzerland: Recent Developments. Dr. Thomas Ernst, CEO

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1 Implementation of Radioactive Waste Disposal in Switzerland: Recent Developments Dr. Thomas Ernst, CEO

2 Outline The legal framework Nuclear Energy Act & Nuclear Energy Ordinance Site evaluation Current considerations within the Sectoral Plan RD&D programme - highlights

3 Requirements according to the Nuclear Energy Act /1 All radioactive wastes produced in Switzerland must, in principle, be managed and disposed of in Switzerland All radioactive wastes are to be disposed of in deep geological repositories The long-term protection of man and the environment must be ensured by a passive safety barrier system

4 Requirements according to the Nuclear Energy Act /2 Once the radioactive wastes have been emplaced, the repository must be monitored for an extended period of time before closure The waste must be retrievable without undue effort up till the time of closure of the repository In order to ensure safety, all precautionary measures that are necessary, based on experience and the current status of scientific and technical knowledge, must be taken

5 Requirements according to the Nuclear Energy Ordinance /1 In order to ensure long-term safety, the site for a deep geological repository must meet the following requirements: - sufficient extent of suitable host rock - favourable hydrogeological conditions - long-term geological stability A deep geological repository must be designed in such a way that - long-term safety is assured by a system of passive safety barriers - the safety functions can be implemented in accordance with the principles of redundancy and diversity

6 Requirements according to the Nuclear Energy Ordinance /2 A deep geological repository consists of the following three components: - a main facility for emplacement of the radioactive waste - a pilot facility where the behaviour of the waste, the engineered barriers and the host rock can be monitored until expiry of the monitoring period - various test zones where the safety-relevant properties of the host rock can be examined in depth in order to confirm the safety demonstration

7 Requirements specified in HSK * Guideline R-21 Protection Objective 1: The release of radionuclides from a sealed repository subsequent upon processes and events reasonably expected to happen shall at no time give rise to individual doses which exceed 0.1 msv per year Protection Objective 2: The individual radiological risk of fatality from a sealed repository due to unlikely processes and events not taken into consideration in Protection Objective 1 shall at no time exceed one in a million per year Protection Objective 3: After a repository has been sealed, no further measures shall be necessary to ensure safety * HSK = Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate

8 Implementation of the requirements in a safety concept /1 Safety functions Isolation Containment Restriction of Release

9 Implementation of the requirements in a safety concept /2 Multiple safety barriers Potential layout of the safety barrier systems for the HLW and L/ILW repositories

10 The road to the Sectoral plan /1 Switzerland has adopted the Nomination approach For the low/intermediate level waste four sites were investigated

11 The road to the Sectoral plan /2 In 1995, Wellenberg was proposed for further underground investigations and the process of General Site application was initiated. In 2002 and although on a technical level - Federal Government - Authorities in favor - Local government Negative Cantonal vote New Nuclear Law (2005)

12 Sectoral Plan & the Legal Framework Legal Basis - Nuclear Energy Law (2005) - Law on Spatial Planning Sectoral Plan - Law on Environmental Protection Aim of Sectoral Plan - To evaluate and nominate sites for geological disposal in a fair and transparent process under the lead of Federal Government and in collaboration with Cantonal Government and participation of regional stakeholders better clarification of political boundary conditions participative approach within a nominated region

13 Sectoral Plan overview Political and legal requirements Sectoral plan for deep geological repositories Strategic part Site selection procedure Public Implementation Stage 1 Selection of potential siting regions Stage 2 Selection of at least 2 potential sites Cantonal structure plans Stage 3 Site selection and general license procedure General license procedure

14 Sectoral plan Stage 1 of 3: Selection of potential siting regions in 4 steps /1 Step 1: Allocation of waste to the two repository types, HLW and L/ILW The following properties are decisive for allocation of waste categories, or parts thereof, to the repositories: Inventory and radionuclide half-lives Identification of safety-relevant nuclides (evaluation of radiotoxicity) Waste volumes Material properties (waste matrix, container) and possible effects on the host rock Heat production Content of potentially gas-producing components (metals, organics)

15 Sectoral plan Stage 1 of 3: Selection of potential siting regions in 4 steps /2 Step 1: Waste reduction = f (host rock properties) Allocation of waste to the two repository types, HLW and L/ILW Waste volume for disposal [m 3 ] Homogeneously porous host rock Dose limit 0.02 msv/a 60% 80% % 10% 2% 0 0% 1.E-14 1.E-13 1.E-12 1.E-11 1.E-10 1.E-09 1.E-08 1.E-07 1.E-06 k (host rock) [m/s] 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% Proportion of L/ILW volume [%]

16 Sectoral plan Stage 1 of 3: Selection of potential siting regions in 4 steps /3 Step 2: Specifying the safety concept and the criteria-based quantitative and qualitative requirements and targets for site evaluation Barrier and safety concepts for the repository Contribution to safety of the different barrier system components Requirements on the host rock and the geosphere

17 Sectoral plan Stage 1 of 3: Selection of potential siting regions in 4 steps /4 Step 3: Identification of suitable geological-tectonic regions Large-scale erosion Long-term stability Predictability Complexity and explorability of spatial conditions in the underground environment

18 Sectoral plan Stage 1 of 3: Selection of potential siting regions in 4 steps /5 Step 4: Identification of potentially suitable host rocks Spatial potential of the host rock Water flow and material transport properties Geochemical conditions and retention properties Release pathways and their properties Long-term behaviour of the host rock

19 Sectoral plan Stage 1 of 3: Selection of potential siting regions in 4 steps /6 Step 4: Identification of suitable host rocks Depth, thickness and lateral extent Potentially usable disposal volume in relation to requirements, based on the maximum planned disposal capacity Hydrogeological regime and water flow properties Impact of erosion: depth of repository, uplift, large-scale erosion, glacial scouring Exploitable natural resources and potential conflicts of use Rock mechanical properties, conditions for repository construction

20 Sectoral plan Stage 2: Selection of at least two sites /1 Formulation of proposals in two steps: Step 1: Identifying sites within the selected siting regions As a first step, Nagra identifies potential sites within the selected siting areas Working together with the affected Cantons and regions, proposals are made for the layout of the surface facilities

21 Sectoral plan Stage 2: Selection of at least two sites /2 Step 2: Comparative evaluation and proposal of at least two sites Provisional quantitative safety analyses are carried out for the sites identified in the first step; the results are compared as follows

22 Sectoral plan Stage 2: Selection of at least two sites /3 Step 2: Comparative evaluation and proposal of at least two sites

23 Sectoral plan Stage 3: Site selection and general licence procedure In this stage, the site where the repository will be constructed is selected and a general licence application is prepared for this site

24 Sectoral plan time line Steps towards implementation /1 Disposal feasibility project (nuclear legislation) Approved by Government L/ILW:1988; HLW/SF 2006 Siting concept (sectoral plan) In consultation; approval by Government expected in Oct Siting implementation in 3 stages - Government approval of potential regions 2-3 years - Govern. approval of at least 2 sites 2-3 years - Site investigations from surface; approval by Department (objections) 3-4 years

25 Sectoral plan time line Steps towards implementation /2 Licensing steps (nuclear legislation) - General licence 2014/16 Approval by Gov. and both Houses of Parliament, optional national referendum 3-4 years - Licence for underground investigation work Approval by Department (objections) - Nuclear construction licence Approval by Department (objections) - Nuclear operation licence Approval by Department (objections) LLW: 2030; HLW:

26 Overview of Nagra's R&D plan /1 Geoscience - Host rock properties, long-term evolution Safety analysis - Safety concept and strategy, code development, synthesis of system understanding, performance assessment Waste characterisation and acceptance - Inventory, logistics, acceptance criteria, gas issues Facility design Non-nuclear nuclear issues - Management of chemotoxic wastes URL Studies

27 RD&D Highlights - Nagra's approach to gas issues /1 Relevant experiments on gas issues are essential - Identification of mechanisms - Characterisation of host rock provides basis (parameters) for comparison System analysis - Gas build-up (system- / site-specific) - Gas transport mechanisms and paths - Impacts on long-term safety Long-term safety (evaluation for Opalinus Clay) - Damage to the barrier function can be excluded - Gas pressure as driving force - Release of volatile RNs: unlikely; small doses

28 RD&D Highlights - Nagra's approach to gas issues /2 Gas production for a L/ILW repository will be substantially higher than for a SF/HLW repository - For the higher gas production rates of L/ILW, design measures (controlled gas release through emplacement tunnel seals) may be important - Some reduction of gas production may be possible through further consideration of the permissible level of organics in wastes Alternative canister material - Gas production could be reduced by alternative canister material (e.g. Cu) for SF/HLW

29 RD&D Highlights - Study on current technology for treating organics Critical assessment of current treatment / conditioning practices for organic radioactive waste Actions: Planned to start in September Review of worldwide practices (full-scale active, pilot) - Exchange of opinions with international experts Assessment: applicability of alternative processes, economic factors taken into account Conclusion: optimise current practices?

30 RD&D Highlights - Chemotoxic waste Demonstrate compliance with applicable non-radiological standards Actions: Started June 2007 Definition: - List of waste- and repository-related, potentially relevant chemotoxics - Inventory of chemotoxics specific to waste package types - Total inventory of chemotoxics in repository Assessment: Check compliance of total chemotoxics inventory with applicable standards Conclusions: no problems?

31 RD&D Highlights - Surface facilities for HLW repository ca. 200m Operations building Administration building Encapsulation facility ca. 400m Surface facility for the shaft

32 Grimsel Test Site (GTS)

33 Grimsel Test Site - Layout

34 Project partners of GTS Phase VI GTS Phase VI NAGRA PSI National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste Paul Scherrer Institute HYRL Posiva Oy University of Helsinki Finnish SF Disposal Organisation/ Nuclear Waste Management Expert Uni Berne ETH Solexperts University of Berne Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich Swiss Precision Geomonitoring STUK SKB Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority Finland Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. ANDRA Agence nationale pour la gestion des déchets radioactifs AIST National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology BMWA FZK GRS Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe Gesellschaft für Anlagen - und Reaktorsicherheit Criepi JAEA OBAYASHI RWMC Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry Japan Atomic Energy Agency Obayashi Corporation Radioactive Waste Management Funding and Research Center ENRESA CIEMAT Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radioactivos Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas Medioambientales y Technologicas NDA Nuclear Decommissioning Authority CSIC Institut de Ciències de la Terra "Jaume Almera" (CSIC) EC European Community AITEMIN Asociación para la Investigación y el Desarrollo Industrial de los Recursos Naturales RAWRA NRI Radioactive Waste Repository Authority Nuclear Research Institute Status July organisations (13 partners) from 9 countries plus EC

35 Mont Terri Rock Laboratory (FMT)

36 Mont Terri Project Partners République et Canton du Jura, Département de l Environnement et de l Equipement; responsible for Mont Terri motorway tunnel system; project authorisation SWISSTOPO NAGRA HSK Federal Office of Topography; project direction National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste Swiss Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ANDRA IRSN BGR GRS ENRESA SCK CEN JAEA OBAYASHI CRIEPI GI Agence Nationale pour la Gestion des Déchets Radioactifs Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe Gesellschaft für Reaktorsicherheit und Strahlenschutz Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, S.A. Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie, Mol Japan Atomic Energy Agency Obayashi Corporation Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry Geotechnical Institute Ltd.; project management

37 Extension of laboratory starting in September

38 Thank you for you attention