Abstract
The handling and safe disposal of spent fuel from nuclear power plants has been an issue since the 1950s when the first suggested method, geological storage in salt formations, was proposed in the US. Since then a number of methods have been developed for different types of bedrocks and waste types. One common need applicable to all these methods is to describe features and processes essential in repository design and demonstrations of long-term safety. So far, most methods have not described, nor emphasized, the importance of site-specific understanding of key parameters related to a specific repository design. Furthermore, the need of interdisciplinary research and the benefits gained when handling the site as a unified connected and mutually interrelated system (from bedrock to surface) have not been fully discussed. During a 30-year period, research has been performed in Sweden to demonstrate feasibility and long-term safety of underground geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel. In this paper, the overall strategy and discipline-specific modelling methods used in the site description of a final repository in Sweden are described, as exemplified by the Forsmark site. The resulting site description covers understanding of the historical evolution of the site, site data describing the current situation as well as spatially variable models needed to design the repository and evaluate long-term safety after closure. Finally, lessons learnt from this work are summarized, which are important when employing this method in the future.
Highlights
Nuclear energy is destined to play an important role in the societal transition towards a low-carbon, low-CO2-emitting energy production for a foreseeable future
This paper describes the methods used, results and lessons learned from the site investigations and site-descriptive modelling performed at Forsmark and Simpevarp/ Laxemar in Sweden, as exemplified by results from the Forsmark site
The site-descriptive modelling work has followed the plans and strategies developed before the start of the site investigation phase
Summary
Nuclear energy is destined to play an important role in the societal transition towards a low-carbon, low-CO2-emitting energy production for a foreseeable future. Disposal of highlevel and/or long-lived radioactive waste in engineered facilities (repositories) located underground in suitable geological formations has been widely investigated worldwide during the last three decades. The role of the geological formation is to provide stable mechanical conditions, favourable hydrogeochemical conditions, low groundwater turnover and effective retention of radionuclides, if released from the disposal site. As early as the 1950s, the US National Academy of Sciences recommended deep disposal of long-lived radioactive wastes in geologically stable formations, such as deep salt beds. In 1998, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), hosted in bedded salt near Carlsbad, NM, USA for safe long-term disposal of HLW radioactive wastes (research and military origin). The welded tuff of Yucca Mountain, NV, USA has been proposed for disposal of spent nuclear reactor fuel and HLW wastes (civil origin).
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