Radioactive Waste Management IGD-TP Dr Gérald Ouzounian ANDRA Gerald.ouzounian@andra.fr
Contents Back to fundamentals Safety goals Key challenges The French Case IGD-TP 2
The nuclear fuel cycle and related radioactive waste SF or Waste generated from fuel processing Waste generated from decommissioning facilities Waste generated from industrial operations 3
Strategy for disposal A (Bq/g) 10 10 Performance + 10 9 10 8 Robustness + 10 7 10 6 HLW 10 5 10 4 10 3 LLW-LL 10 2 10 1 LILW-SL VLLW 10 1 10 2 10 3 10 4 10 5 10 6 Time (years) 4
Similar Safety Objectives for All Disposal Facilities Protection of human beings and the environment assessment of the radiological and chemical impact of the disposal facility monitoring of facilities and of the environment Immediate and long term protection present and future with timescales consistent with the lifetime of radionuclides Impacts are assessed over timescales depending on the nature of the waste involved and, consequently, on the related disposal facility 5
Example of inventory for a nuclear fleet lifetime
NEA position paper, 2008 Why is geological disposal appropriate for high-activity, long-lived radioactive waste? The most hazardous and long-lived radioactive wastes, such as spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste from fuel reprocessing, must be contained and isolated from humans and the environment for many tens of thousands of years. A geological disposal system provides a unique level and duration of protection for high-activity, long-lived radioactive waste... The overwhelming scientific consensus world-wide is that geological disposal is technically feasible. This is supported by the extensive experimental data accumulated for different geological formations and engineered materials from surface investigations, underground research facilities and demonstration equipment and facilities; by the current state-of-the-art in modelling techniques; by the experience in operating underground repositories for other classes of waste; and by the advances in best practice for performing safety assessments of potential disposal systems.. 7
Strategy for disposal A c t i v i t y Contain and Isolate ~300 years for surface disposal Limit transfer and/or amount of long lived activity Some 10 5 years for geological disposal Time 8
Functions requested from the disposal system Primary functions Contain and isolate radioactivity in order to prevent dispersion risks Limit migration of radionuclides to protect people against irradiation Other functions Prevent water flow in the repository Keep mechanical integrity of the waste packages Release the residual thermal pressure of the waste Maintaining subcriticality Releasing radiolysis gases 9
Spent fuel assembly Recycling Recycling Depending on National Strategies Waste Minor actinides Fission products 10
Key challenges for radioactive waste management Performance of a repository to achieve safety requirements Suited for the level of activity Robustness Suited for the lifetime of the waste Specific challenges high-level activity and for long-lived waste Heat generation Very long timescales Dealing with uncertainties Social and political challenges Siting, construction and operations ~100 years Commitment for the long-term, for the present generation as well as for the next ones 11
Content Back to fundamentals Safety goals Key challenges The French Case IGD-TP 12
Main options Main achievements of the 15 years research defined by the 1991 law Processing of SF requested by the 2006 Planning Act The geological disposal is the reference option for HL and ILLL The geological repository can only be licensed for a geological formation that has been investigated through an underground laboratory 13
URL Site Main Geological Features 14
Main features of the Callovo-Oxfordian formation 130 m thick 160 million years (Callovo-Oxfordian) Clay minerals 40 to 55% Carbonates and quartz 40 to 55% Pyrite 1 to 2% Organic components 1% 15
Research, Construction and Operation of the Underground Laboratory in Meuse/Haute-Marne (Bure) Bure 2009 16
Architecture of the geological repository Impotance of reversibility and retrievability 17
Licence application for the construction of the geological repository Site-selection Process Transposition zone of the Laboratory (250 km²) Interest zone ~30 km² + Surface: 2 or 3 implementation scenarios 2010-2011: Comprehensive survey of the interest zone and development studies on implementation scenarios of surface facilities Exchanges and dialogue 2005 2009 2012 2013 Andra AGENCE NATIONALE POUR LA GESTION DES DÉCHETS RADIOACTIFS 2015 2016 Scientific advice Opinion from territorial authorities Law on Reversibility Public Inquiry Authorization decree Proposal by Andra of an implementation site Early 2010: Validation by the government of the underground interest zone and of surface scenarios Public Public debate debate Site selection by the Government 18
Contents Back to fundamentals Safety goals Key challenges The French Case IGD-TP 19
Implementing Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste Technology Platform (IGD-TP) From Vision to Implementation Presenters name IGD-TP SecIGD 20 INTTRADAI 10.0013
Organisations endorsing the Vision (at the end of 2009) 21
Shared Vision 22
Other current participants (March 2010) Belgium: AREVA, CEN-SCK Czech: Czeck Technical University Prague France: INPL, Université de Versailles St Quentin Germany: BGR, DBE Tec, FD R, GRS, GNS, IELF-TUC, KIT, S&B Minerals Hungary: PURAM NGOs: Greenpeace Italy: ENEA Netherlands: NRG Romania: CITON, IFIN-NH Spain: AITEMIN, Amphos XXI, Ingemisa, UPM Sweden: Nova Fou, Stockholm University UK: BGS, Cardiff U., Loughborough U., NNL To join: www.igdtp.eu 23
IGD-TP s organisation Source: IGD-TP s Vision Report 24
Main tasks to be accomplished during the next two years Vision Report Strategic Research Agenda Deployment Plan 2009 (done) 2010 2011 RD&D priorities forms of joint for licencing and work and activities implementation 25
Why to join? Our vision is that by 2025, the first geological disposal facilities for spent fuel, high-level waste, and other long-lived radioactive waste will be operating safely in Europe. Next step is to define a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) SRA: How to achieve the Vision Report s goal? Identification of research, development and demonstration (RD&D) areas and needs Prioritizing RD&D needs 26
Benefits to industry and to research organisations Have a collective and more influential voice at the European level Have an unequalled chance to be kept informed on the developments and future needs, and to prepare programmes Contribute to the defining of key projects for funding by all interested parties 27
Benefits to all stakeholders The SRA will be an important step for Communicating the remaining research needs Creating synergies, co-operation, co-ordination within the IGD-TP, and with activities taking place in other technology platforms and within other international co-operation forums 28
Next steps 29
SRA process Vision (by 2025) The framework to develop a repository Key issues (compilation from WM programmes) Identification of Major trends (Super topics) Detailed line of reasoning for each Super topic Prioritization within the Super topics
How to join? Joining a platform is not a simple decision. It is a commitment: To participate to the work performed in the framework of the platform To share views and works for the Vision Joining the IDG-TP platform is simple To endorse the Vision To send an application form to the Secretariat www.igdtp.eu 31
Conclusion Solutions are available to achieve safety with SF and HLW Geological disposal Key research areas are identified for further improvements Long-term stability of the waste forms, thermal load, gas generation and effects IGD-TP was launched to organize research programmes between EC member states Coordination with other platforms and programmes Partitioning and transmutation can provide help in optimizing disposal solutions 32