Balkan EU News, Dec 17, 2024
Bulgaria has taken a significant step towards enhancing its nuclear safety measures with the recent signing of a grant agreement between the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the Bulgarian government. This partnership aims to conduct a feasibility study for the safe underground disposal of spent nuclear fuel, utilizing advanced technology from the U.S.
Press Release, Dec 16, 2024
Berkeley, CA – Deep Isolation is delighted to announce a significant milestone, as shared today by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). With financial support from USTDA, Bulgaria’s national waste management organization, the State Enterprise Radioactive Waste (SERAW), has engaged Deep Isolation to conduct a Feasibility Study. The study will evaluate the use of our patented deep borehole disposal technology to provide safe, permanent disposal solutions for managing Bulgaria’s current and projected inventory of radioactive waste requiring geological disposal. Please see here for the full announcement.
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About Deep Isolation
Deep Isolation is a leading global innovator in nuclear waste storage and disposal solutions. Driven by a passion for environmental stewardship and scientific ingenuity, the company’s patented solution of advanced nuclear technologies enables global delivery through its partnerships with industry leaders as well as flexible IP licensing options.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
media@deepisolation.com
Deep Isolation
2001 Addison St., Suite 300
Berkeley, CA 94704
www.deepisolation.com
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NucNet, Dec 16, 2024
The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has signed a grant agreement with the Bulgarian government and its state-owned energy holding to support nuclear energy and safety projects in the Balkan country.
The USTDA has deepened its collaboration with Bulgaria to advance the country’s infrastructure, energy, and cybersecurity capabilities.
Event, March 9-13, 2025 in Phoenix, AZ
Deep Isolation will exhibit (booth 1135) and present its latest papers at the Annual Waste Management Symposia 2025 in Phoenix, AZ.
Press Release, Nov 12, 2024
Berkeley, CA – Deep Isolation received an award from the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of State to provide expert advice to selected Central and Eastern European Governments on the development of integrated waste management strategies for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The role is an integral part of the NEXT One Stop Shop (‘Nuclear Expediting the Energy Transition’) that the U.S. Department of State is establishing as part of its wider FIRST program (Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology).
Spent Fuel Management is an element of the FIRST program through the NEXT One Stop Shop. Deep Isolation was selected following an open, competitive process.
Chris Parker, Managing Director of Deep Isolation’s European business, said, “Deep Isolation is proud to support the Department of State in this important initiative, and I am impressed with its pace, clarity, and urgency. In just the first week of our new contract, we have met with government leaders from three countries. They rightly put great importance on the need to develop integrated strategies for managing the nuclear waste that their SMRs will produce in their countries, and the whole team at Deep Isolation looks forward to supporting them in this.”
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About Deep Isolation
Deep Isolation is a leading global innovator in nuclear waste storage and disposal solutions. Driven by a passion for environmental stewardship and scientific ingenuity, the company’s patented solution of advanced nuclear technologies enables global delivery through its partnerships with industry leaders as well as flexible IP licensing options.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
media@deepisolation.com
Deep Isolation
2001 Addison St., Suite 300
Berkeley, CA 94704
www.deepisolation.com
About the NEXT initiative
Nuclear Expediting the Energy Transition (NEXT) was announced by U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry at the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Bucharest, Romania in September 2023. NEXT is a subprogram that provides technical assistance to eligible partner countries under the U.S. Department of State’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) initiative. Like other cooperation under the FIRST program, NEXT supports nuclear energy countries, as well as prospective newcomers, as they establish secure and safe civilian nuclear programs in support of their energy security and climate goals under the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation. https://www.smr-first-program.net/next/
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Press Release, Oct 22, 2024
Berkeley, CA – Deep Isolation, a leader in nuclear waste disposal solutions, successfully hosted its third technical workshop for the UPWARDS project, a project centered on the development of a Universal Canister System (UCS). The workshop, held at R-V Industries, Inc. in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, focused on large-scale manufacturing and commercialization of this pioneering waste management solution.
The UPWARDS project, funded by the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Project Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), is developing the UCS and associated Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) for advanced reactor waste forms. Deep Isolation leads this initiative in collaboration with partners NAC International, Inc., the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Attendees of the workshop included members of the project’s Technical Advisory Committee, who toured R-V Industries’ facility and observed the UCS prototype canister in its final stages of fabrication. The committee includes representatives from across the nuclear industry who provide ongoing technical and strategic guidance for the project.
Rod McCullum, Senior Director of Decommissioning and Used Fuel at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and a member of the UPWARDS Technical Advisory Committee, emphasized the importance of the UCS initiative: “The Universal Canister System represents a pivotal step toward safe and sustainable nuclear waste management. This innovative approach not only reflects our commitment to the long-term safety of nuclear technologies that will benefit future generations but also reaffirms the nuclear industry’s commitment to transparency and community engagement.”
Jesse Sloane, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Deep Isolation added, “The completion of this Universal Canister System fabrication effort marks a significant milestone for Deep Isolation and reflects years of high-quality work by the UPWARDS team. We are excited to see our research, engineering, and diligence realized in this prototype canister. This initiative demonstrates Deep Isolation’s commitment to innovation, environmental stewardship, and collaboration to ensure responsible management of our energy legacy.”
The UCS is a first-of-its-kind, fully integrated waste management system designed to safely store, transport, and dispose of advanced reactor waste streams. The system is compatible with both mined and deep borehole repositories, providing a flexible, cost-effective, modular, and scalable solution for the advanced reactor industry. R-V Industries, Inc. has been instrumental in the fabrication and development of the canister, making it a key component of future nuclear waste disposal strategies.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
media@deepisolation.com
Deep Isolation
2001 Addison St., Suite 300
Berkeley, CA 94704
www.deepisolation.com
About Deep Isolation
Deep Isolation is a leading global innovator in nuclear waste storage and disposal solutions. Driven by a passion for environmental stewardship and scientific ingenuity, the company’s patented solution of advanced nuclear technologies enables global delivery through its partnerships with industry leaders as well as flexible IP licensing options.
About the Universal Canister System
Deep Isolation is developing – with support from the ARPA-E ONWARDS program – a Universal Canister System (UCS) for the safe storage, transport and disposal of spent nuclear fuel from advanced reactors. Once encapsulated in a UCS canister, the spent fuel from any advanced reactor will be both safe and future-proofed – that is, ready for any option the waste owner may choose in the future: long-term storage, disposal in a mined geologic disposal facility or disposal in a deep borehole repository. The prototype UCS canister being developed by the current ONWARDS project will be used for field testing at Cameron in Project SAVANT.
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Energy News Beat, Aug 30, 2024
In the Energy News Beat, Conversation in Energy with Stuart Turley interviews Elizabeth Muller, Executive Chair and Co-Founder, about the future of nuclear power and the challenges surrounding nuclear waste disposal. They explore public perception shifts, the potential for recycling nuclear waste, and regulatory barriers in the US compared to Europe. Elizabeth highlights Deep Isolation’s innovative underground disposal method and emphasizes the need for legislative changes to advance nuclear power as a key component in achieving net-zero emissions…
Press Release, Sept 10, 2024
TEXAS/HALDEN – The Deep Borehole Demonstration Center (DBD Center) is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew (Andy) Griffith as its new Executive Director. Griffith brings more than 40 years of experience in nuclear energy, having held significant positions in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and Battelle.
Griffith currently leads a team at Battelle that supports the U.S. Army’s exploration of microreactor technology and other related opportunities. Prior to his role at Battelle, he retired from the DOE in 2023, where he most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Supply Chain at the Office of Nuclear Energy. In this capacity, Griffith led the DOE’s efforts in research, development, and deployment of advanced nuclear fuel cycle technologies aimed at improving fuel utilization and energy generation while reducing waste generation and limiting proliferation risk. He also played a crucial role in developing the nuclear fuel supply needed for the deployment of advanced reactors in the United States.
The DBD Center was established in December 2022 as a not-for-profit independent organization to advance global knowledge on the use of deep borehole disposal for the safe geological disposal of radioactive waste. The Center organizes scientific demonstration projects sponsored by governmental and non-governmental organizations to accelerate the global adoption of this technology.
In his new role as Executive Director, Griffith will be responsible for developing and overseeing the delivery of the Deep Borehole Demonstration Program, driving the recruitment of program and project sponsors, representing and advocating for the DBD Center within the U.S. and international nuclear organizations, and ensuring transparent and inclusive governance for the program.
“We are thrilled to welcome Andy Griffith as the new Executive Director of the DBD Center,” one of the DBD Center’s Board member Richard Esposito stated. “His extensive experience in the nuclear energy sector renders him an exceptional leader to oversee the Center’s mission of advancing deep borehole disposal technology. We are confident that under his guidance, the DBD Center will continue to make significant strides in demonstrating and promoting safe geological disposal solutions for radioactive waste.”
Concurrent with his position as Deputy Assistant Secretary, Griffith served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, overseeing the DOE’s entire nuclear energy portfolio from February 2022 to May 2022. Throughout his tenure at the DOE, he held various leadership roles supporting nuclear energy waste management, facility operations, security, and technology research missions. Before joining the DOE, Griffith served in the U.S. nuclear submarine force and continued his service in the Naval Reserve, retiring as a Captain in 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Science in Technology Management from the University of Maryland, University College.
For more information, please contact: info@deepboreholedemo.org
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About the Deep Borehole Demonstration Center
The nonprofit Deep Borehole Demonstration Center was established to provide interested entities and governments. The nonprofit Deep Borehole Demonstration Center was established to provide interested entities and governments worldwide with an independent organization through which to commission projects that characterize and advance the technical readiness of deep borehole nuclear waste disposal technologies.
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Press Release, Sept 4, 2024
Berkeley, CA – Deep Isolation has been selected as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) initiative, which funds energy and environmental projects with potential for commercialization.
In collaboration with the advanced reactor developer Kairos Power, Deep Isolation’s awarded Project “PUCK” (Performance Validation of the Universal Canister System for Kairos Power) aims to validate the functionality of Deep Isolation’s advanced disposal canister design with TRISO (TRi-structural ISOtropic) spent fuel. TRISO – dubbed “the most robust nuclear fuel on earth” by the Department of Energy – is a commercially viable fuel form used in advanced reactor designs under development by multiple vendors.
This project addresses the problem of the increasing nuclear spent-fuel stockpile by proving the viability of innovative, triple-purpose canister technology that can accommodate a wide range of different nuclear waste types for storage, transportation, and eventual disposal in a geologic repository.
Through the support of the DOE’s ARPA-E programs, Deep Isolation is developing a Universal Canister System (UCS) for the safe storage, transport, and disposal (in both traditional mined repositories and deep boreholes) of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste from both conventional and advanced nuclear reactors. The UCS provides a robust design that future-proofs the advanced reactor industry in the face of uncertain future disposal paths while making available a new, low-cost, modular, and scalable disposal option: deep borehole disposal. By testing the UCS design with spent TRISO fuel from one of the country’s first advanced reactors, Kairos Power’s KP-FHR, Project PUCK will support the development of the UCS to the point of full commercialization.
“This represents a significant milestone for our company and for the industry,” explains Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation. “The adoption of this technology in the advanced reactor commercial market will pave the way for an integrated waste management system. I am delighted that the Department of Energy is supporting our collaboration with Kairos Power to demonstrate the Universal Canister System’s effectiveness, reinforcing this technology as the solution of choice for advanced reactors.”
“We are excited to collaborate with Deep Isolation on Project PUCK,” says Per Peterson, Chief Nuclear Office and Co-Founder of Kairos Power. “Kairos Power has been a strong supporter of Deep Isolation since its inception. We are delighted to work with them to see this technology being commercialized and deployed to provide an integrated, end-to-end solution for managing spent fuel produced by advanced reactors.”
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About Deep Isolation
Deep Isolation is a leading global innovator in nuclear waste storage and disposal solutions. Driven by a passion for environmental stewardship and scientific ingenuity, the company’s patented solution of advanced nuclear technologies enables global delivery through its partnerships with industry leaders as well as flexible IP licensing options. With grant support from the US Department of Energy through the UPWARDS project, Deep Isolation is developing a Universal Canister System (UCS) for the safe storage, transport and disposal of spent nuclear fuel from advanced reactors. Once encapsulated in a UCS canister, the waste streams from any advanced reactor will be both safe and future-proofed – that is, ready for any option the waste owner may choose in the future: long-term storage, disposal in a mined geologic disposal facility or disposal in a deep borehole repository. The prototype UCS canister being developed by the UPWARDS project will be used for future testing and demonstration programs, providing invaluable data to inform the OECD-NEA WISARD project.
About Kairos Power
Kairos Power is a mission-driven nuclear technology, engineering, and manufacturing company singularly Kairos Power is a mission-driven nuclear technology, engineering, and manufacturing company singularly focused on commercializing the fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) – a clean energy solution that can be deployed with robust safety at an affordable cost to enable deep decarbonization. Founded in 2016, the company is unique in applying a rapid iterative development approach and vertical integration strategy to bring advanced reactor technology to market. In 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit for Kairos Power’s Hermes demonstration reactor – the first non-water-cooled reactor to be approved for construction in the U.S. in more than 50 years. Kairos Power’s mission is to enable the world’s transition to clean energy with the ultimate goal of dramatically improving people’s quality of life while protecting the environment.
Press Contact
media@deepisolation.com
www.deepisolation.com
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