Radioactive waste disposal startup Deep Isolation said Monday it has inked a cooperative agreement with spent nuclear fuel storage and transportation provider NAC International.
The agreement covers collaboration in designing, developing, and producing Deep Isolation’s canister technology for disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, according to a press release from the Berkeley, Calif., company.
“Leveraging NAC’s dry fuel storage technologies, the two companies will collaborate to advance the technical aspects of Deep Isolation’s current solution design for canister storage, disposal, and equipment for the transfer of SNF and HLW from existing storage areas to a Deep Isolation repository,” the release says.
Deep Isolation has developed corrosion-resistant canisters that can hold unmodified fuel assemblies.
“Working together we plan to advance the safety and quality of our canister design and development. This partnership will enable Deep Isolation to further advance the canister systems for nuclear materials storage and disposal operations including equipment handling and transfer,” said Deep Solutions spokesman Zann Aeck.
The agreement became effective immediately. Deep Isolation expects the agreement to last for years, but said it cannot comment on details.
The announcement came less than five months after Deep Isolation announced a memorandum of understanding with Bechtel, a major player in the Department of Energy nuclear complex. That deal commits Bechtel to providing project management, business, and engineering support to Deep Isolation, which in turn would support Bechtel environmental remediation programs for the federal government.
Bechtel and Deep Isolation are working together on possible projects at several locations.
“Bechtel is working with Deep Isolation to assemble a comprehensive set of data — engineering, scientific, technical, financial, and more — to show that the Deep Isolation method is a viable alternative to solve the national problem of disposal of used nuclear fuel and high level waste. We believe the technology is promising and deserves to be considered,” Bechtel said in a written statement this week.
Founded in 2016, Deep Isolation offers a patented system for directional drilling for temporary storage or permanent disposal of radioactive waste. The company has so far operated on seed funding, but executives said earlier this year they hoped to secure an initial contract before the end of 2019.
“We expect first contracts (on individual projects) to be for initial studies and analyses, with disposal at least a couple of years into the future,” Aeck stated. “Government procurement takes time, but we are optimistic about multiple contract opportunities. Of course, we aren’t yet at liberty to provide details.”
NAC International, established in 1968, offers various systems for storage and transportation of used nuclear fuel, along with consulting services. The Peachtree Corners, Ga.-based company was acquired by Japanese engineering firm Hitachi Zosen in 2013. It is partnering on International Storage Partners’ planned consolidated interim spent fuel storage facility in West Texas.
“NAC welcomes this opportunity to work with Deep Isolation and its partners in the development of a safe and efficient integrated waste management solution that is greatly needed by the nuclear industry worldwide,” NAC President and CEO Kent Cole said in the release. “NAC’s technology and knowhow fit well with Deep Isolation’s solution to ensure storage, transport, and disposal objectives are well integrated into efficient waste disposition strategies, tailored to the relative size and needs of each country’s nuclear power program.”
