The Implementing Geological Disposal Technology Platform: Key Challenges in Research and Development in Radioactive Waste Management

Abstract

The Implementing Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste Technology Platform (IGD-TP) was launched in November 2009 to tackle the remaining research, development and demonstration (RD&D) challenges with a view to fostering the implementation of geological disposal programmes for high-level and long-lived waste in Europe. The IGD-TP’s 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”. Aside from most of European waste management organisations, the IGD-TP now has 110 members covering most of the RD&D actors in the field of implementing geological disposal of radioactive waste in Europe. The IGD-TP Strategic Research Agenda (SRA), that defines shared RD&D priorities with an important cooperative added value, is used as a basis for the Euratom programme. It provides a vehicle to emphasise RD&D and networking activities that are important for establishing safety cases and fostering disposal implementation. As the IGD-TP brings together the national organisations which have a mandate to implement geological disposal and act as science providers, its SRA also ensures a balance between fundamental science, implementation-driven RD&D and technological demonstration. The SRA is in turn supported by a Deployment Plan (DP) for the Joint Activities to be carried out by the Technology Platform with its members and participants. The Joint Activities were derived from the individual SRA Topics and prioritized and assigned a timeline for their implementation. The deployment scheme of the activities is updated on a yearly basis.