Finland Introduces the First Deep-Earth Repository for Nuclear Waste Disposal

Introduction

The world is currently grappling with thousands of metric tons of solid fuel waste from nuclear power plants and millions of liters of radioactive liquid waste from weapons production. These hazardous by-products are temporarily stored in containers, some of which have started leaking their toxic contents. Nuclear waste is infamously known for its potential to remain dangerously radioactive for thousands of years. However, a permanent solution to this global nuclear menace may be in sight. Finland has constructed the world's first deep-earth repository, where it plans to bury nuclear waste for 100,000 years, starting in 2026.

The Onkalo Project

The repository, named 'Onkalo', is located over 400 meters below the forests of southwest Finland, encased in bedrock. The facility is situated atop a network of tunnels next to three nuclear reactors on the island of Olkiluoto, approximately 240 kilometers from the capital, Helsinki. The Onkalo project is based on the "KBS-3" method developed by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company. This method relies on a multi-barrier principle, ensuring that if one of the engineered barriers fails, the isolation of the radioactive waste is not compromised. Pasi Tuohimaa, head of communications for Posiva, the company responsible for handling the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel rods at Onkalo, described the project as a permanent solution for spent fuel disposal. This first-of-its-kind geological disposal facility has been praised as a game-changer, likely to enhance the appeal of nuclear energy.

Deep Geological Repositories

Finland is not the only country considering deep geological repositories for nuclear waste. About a dozen European countries, including Switzerland, are planning similar projects. In the U.S., officials have proposed storing the country's nuclear waste in a repository beneath Yucca Mountain in Nevada. However, this proposal has fluctuated in popularity with changes in the presidency. Currently, nuclear waste is primarily stored where it is generated - at power plants and processing facilities.

Impact on Nuclear Energy

The Onkalo project is expected to bring nuclear energy closer to mainstream acceptance. The World Nuclear Association reports that nuclear energy currently provides about 9% of the world's electricity. Last year, at the COP28 summit, 22 countries including the U.S., Canada, the UK, and France pledged to triple nuclear power capacity by 2050 (from 2020 levels). Onkalo is also likely to increase the appeal of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). These are advanced nuclear reactors with power capacities ranging from 50-300 MW(e) per unit, compared to 700+ MW(e) per unit for traditional nuclear power reactors. SMRs offer significant savings in cost and construction time and can be deployed incrementally to match increasing power demand.

Challenges Ahead

However, there are concerns that most small modular reactor designs will actually increase the volume of nuclear waste in need of management and disposal. These findings contradict the cost and waste reduction benefits that advocates have claimed for advanced nuclear technologies. The study found that one of their key attractions - small size - is also their major Achilles heel because SMRs experience more neutron leakage than conventional reactors, which in turn affects the amount and composition of their waste streams.

Bottom Line

The advent of deep geological repositories like Finland's Onkalo could potentially strengthen the case for SMRs. However, the challenges ahead cannot be ignored. What are your thoughts on this development? Do you think this could be a viable solution to the global nuclear waste problem? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it further. Also, consider signing up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6 pm.