BASE expert discussion: Alternative disposal options

Around 100 participants discussed alternative disposal options for high-level radioactive waste on 11 May 2022 - both online and at BASE in Berlin. The Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management had invited recognised experts from the scientific community to take part in the expert discussion.

Are there safe alternatives to final disposal in deep geological mines?

On 11 May 2022, around 100 participants - online and at BASE in Berlin - discussed alternative options for high- . The Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management had invited renowned experts from the scientific community to take part in the discussion.

The conclusion of the event was that, compared to the path currently being pursued, none of the technologies discussed is technically available today or advantageous in terms of safety.

Alternatives discussed

The expert discussion focused on the following alternative options to the currently favoured final in a deep geological mine:

Borehole ,
Long-term and
Partitioning and transmutation.

Jochen Ahlswede is speaking to the participants of the expert discussion. — Jochen Ahlswede, Head of Research and International at BASE, is opening the event. © BASE

Lena Maerten is speaking to the participants of the expert discussion — Dr. Lena Maerten from the BASE department "Safety Research for Radioactive Waste Disposal" is presenting the research project on alternative disposal options. © BASE

Three participants in the expert discussion are standing on the podium in front of the audience. — Dr. Christiane Stephan-Scherb (BASE) is moderating the altER event. © BASE

Dr. Matthias Englert at the microphone during the expert discussion — Dr. Matthias Englert from the Ökoinstitut e. V. is reporting together with ... © BASE

Dr. Saleem Chaudry at the expert discussion — ...Dr. Saleem Chaudry from the Ökoinstitut e. V. on the current status of the research project. © BASE

Dr. Sophie Kuppler during her lecture — Dr. Sophie Kuppler from the Institute of Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, talks about "Sociotechnical Perspectives". © BASE

Dr Ulrich Harms is standing at the lectern and speaking to the participants of the expert discussion — Dr Ulrich Harms from Department 4 Geosystems of the German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam is giving his lecture on "Deep boreholes - possibilities and limits for repository concepts". © BASE

Prof. Dr. Dirk Bosbach during the expert discussion on alternative disposal options for high-level radioactive waste — Prof. Dr. Dirk Bosbach of the Jülich Research Centre talks about partitioning and transmutation © BASE

Expert discussion on the podium at the altER event (expert discussion on alternative disposal options for high-level radioactive waste) — Panel discussion with invited experts © BASE

Jochen Ahlswede is giving the closing speech, the experts are sitting behind him on the podium. — A summary of the event was given by Jochen Ahlswede, Head of the Research and International Department at the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE). © BASE

Jochen Ahlswede, Head of Research and International Department at BASE, opening the event. Source: BASE

The event was based on the BASE-initiated research project on alternative options, which is currently being conducted by Öko-Institut e.V.. The research project is working through the international state of science and technology for alternative options in the search for a final . These options will be evaluated with regard to their state of development to determine whether they could be considered as a more favourable alternative in terms of safety for the waste in Germany.

Recording of the event

Video

The event was opened by Jochen Ahlswede, Head of Research and International at BASE, with his presentation "Research for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Disposal".

Next, Dr. Lena Maerten (BASE) introduced the research project. The event was moderated by Dr Christiane Stephan-Scherb (BASE). This was followed by presentations of the invited experts and a panel discussion.

Presentations of the speakers

Research for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Disposal, Jochen Ahlswede, Head of the Research and International Department at BAS
Introduction to the research project "Tracking and processing the state of the art in science and technology for alternative options for high- ", Dr. Lena Maerten, desk officer at the "Safety Research for Radioactive Waste Disposal" division at BASE
Presentation of project results to date, Dr. Matthias Englert and Dr. Saleem Chaudry of Öko-Institut e.V.
"Socio-technical perspectives", Dr Sophie Kuppler from the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
"Deep boreholes - possibilities and limits for concepts", Dr Ulrich Harms from the Department 4 Geosystems, Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam
"Radionuclides in the and partitioning & transmutation", Prof. Dr. Dirk Bosbach from the Institute for Energy and Climate Research, Research Centre Jülich

Conclusion of the experts

Following the presentation of the project results and intensive discussion with the experts, BASE came to the following conclusion: In recent years, minor progress has been made in some technologies, but none of the conceivable technologies will be technically available in the foreseeable future, or would present significant safety advantages over in a deep geological mine.

If you have any questions, require further information or are interested in the presentation slides, please contact:

Contact

Dr. Christoph Borkel , Leitung Fachgebiet F3, Sicherheitsforschung für die Entsorgung radioaktiver Abfälle

E-Mail christoph.borkel@base.bund.de

Stand: 2022.06.22