Deep Isolation and UK partners enhance nuclear waste disposal technology.
Environment+Energy Leader, Mar 25, 2025
Author: d33pis0-admin
Nuclear Engineering Int'l, Mar 18, 2025
Deep Isolation advances borehole disposal
US-based Deep Isolation has completed a multi-year project with the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) exploring the feasibility and commercial readiness of deep borehole disposal solutions for nuclear waste.
The Engineer, Mar 18, 2025
Deep borehole disposal project boosts UK’s nuclear waste readiness
US nuclear waste disposal specialist Deep Isolation has completed a project with the UK government toward proving the feasibility and commercial readiness of its deep borehole disposal solutions.
World Nuclear News, Mar 17, 2025
UK government-funded project milestone for borehole disposal
A multi-year project in collaboration with the UK Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), NAC International, Inc, and the University of Sheffield has culminated in the manufacture of a first-of-its-kind disposal canister prototype and elevated Deep Isolation’s technology readiness level.
BERKELEY, CA – Deep Isolation, a leader in nuclear waste disposal technology, has successfully completed a multi-year project with the UK government, marking a major step forward in proving the feasibility and commercial readiness of deep borehole disposal solutions. The Energy Entrepreneurs Fund (EEF)-9001 project, monitored by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), led to the manufacture of a first-of-its-kind disposal canister prototype.
Launched in December 2022, this project was instrumental in validating Deep Isolation’s patented borehole disposal technology for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW). Conducted in collaboration with the UK Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), NAC International, Inc. (NAC), and the University of Sheffield (UoS), the effort focused on both canister design validation and assessing the UK’s manufacturing supply chain capabilities.
“This project is a game-changer for deep borehole disposal canisters,” said Rod Baltzer, CEO at Deep Isolation. “It not only validates key aspects of our technology but also advances manufacturability, cost efficiency, and supply chain readiness – paving the way for future deployments.”
A key outcome was the successful fabrication of two prototype canisters designed to encapsulate a pressurized water reactor (PWR) SNF assembly for dry storage, transport, and final disposal. In parallel, Deep Isolation refined its performance models for long-term safety, leveraging corrosion resistance and post-closure gas migration studies, supported by data from a joint U.S. Department of Energy-funded project (SAVANT). These findings strengthen the case for deep borehole disposal as a scalable, retrievable, and regulatory-compliant solution.
“Developing a viable, cost-effective solution for nuclear waste disposal is a critical challenge, and this project has demonstrated the manufacturability and scalability of Deep Isolation’s innovative canister design,” said Charles Carpenter, Head of Research for AMRC’s Nuclear Manufacturing Group. “By collaborating with industry leaders, we’ve not only validated key technical aspects, but also identified pathways to strengthen the supply chain for advanced nuclear waste disposal solutions. We are proud to have partnered with Deep Isolation and others on this groundbreaking effort.”
The project elevated Deep Isolation’s technology readiness level (TRL) from TRL 3 to TRL 6, a significant milestone toward deployment. Moreover, AMRC’s assessment of UK manufacturing capabilities identified supply chain challenges, particularly in sourcing the canister shell. The team proposed solutions to reduce manufacturing barriers, leading to projected cost reductions and a clearer pathway for future production at scale.
The performance feedback from this initiative informed an updated canister design, with the second prototype fabricated in early 2025 for additional testing. Deep Isolation will use this prototype to further demonstrate the safety and feasibility of its disposal solutions, strengthening industry confidence and regulatory acceptance.
About Deep Isolation
Named as one of Goldman Sachs’ 30 top startups in carbon capture, hydrogen power, and nuclear energy, Deep Isolation is the first company commercializing nuclear waste disposal in deep boreholes. It offers a uniquely tailored solution to help countries complete the necessary steps to dispose of their waste inventories. With 87 patents issued to date, it leverages proven drilling practices to safely isolate waste deep underground in horizontal, vertical, or slanted borehole repositories.
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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Press Release, Mar 5, 2025
Deep Isolation to Showcase Innovative Nuclear Waste Disposal Solutions at ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit
Washington, DC – Deep Isolation, a leader in nuclear waste disposal solutions, will participate in the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit from March 17-19, 2025, in Washington, D.C. This annual event brings together energy industry leaders and experts to explore breakthrough technologies, shaping the future of energy innovation.
Deep Isolation’s participation highlights its commitment to safe, scalable, and cost‑effective solutions for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Over the past three years, the company has collaborated with ARPA-E on multiple projects aimed at revolutionizing nuclear waste management, receiving multiple grants from both ARPA-E and the broader U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Actively working on half a dozen projects, Deep Isolation’s key ARPA-E projects include:
- UPWARDS Initiative: Deep Isolation is leading the development of a Universal Canister System (UCS) for the safe storage, transport, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel from advanced reactors. Supported by a $3.8 million DOE grant through ARPA‑E’s ONWARDS program, this project – executed in partnership with UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and NAC International – provides a modular, scalable, and low-cost disposal option: deep borehole disposal.
- Project SAVANT: Deep Isolation is advancing UCS technical and supply chain readiness under ARPA-E’s CREATE program. This two-year, $400 thousand project has bolstered Deep Isolation’s confidence in its canister design through testing of its disposal system materials under prototypic conditions, affirming the ability to meet stringent regulatory requirements. As the project nears completion, Deep Isolation is collaborating with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to better quantify domestic capabilities, costs, bottlenecks, and solutions to enable large‑scale US-based UCS production.
- CURIE Grant Collaboration: In 2023, Deep Isolation joined a project under ARPA‑E’s CURIE program to design a comprehensive economic model and waste disposal plan for spent nuclear fuel recycling. Led by Argonne National Laboratory, the $4.9 million initiative focuses on oxide reduction technology for pyrochemical recycling of light water reactor spent fuel. Deep Isolation’s role involves optimizing waste disposal costs and increasing the technical readiness level of nuclear fuel reprocessing through its cost-effective deep borehole repository technology.
Deep Isolation’s Engineering team will be available at the summit (booth #720) to discuss its latest advancements, ongoing research, and potential collaborations. Attendees can connect with Jesse Sloane, Executive Vice President of Engineering; Matt Waples, Director of Engineering; and Vaibhav Sharma, Senior Engineer. Attendees will have the opportunity to see first-hand a detailed diorama of Deep Isolation’s solution, offering an in-depth look at its innovative approach to nuclear waste management.
“We are excited to participate in the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit and showcase how our Universal Canister System and deep borehole disposal can provide a secure, cost‑effective, and scalable solution for managing nuclear waste,” said Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation. “Our ongoing work with ARPA-E is critical in advancing next-generation nuclear by providing waste disposal strategies.”
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About Deep Isolation
Named as one of Goldman Sachs’ 30 top startups in carbon capture, hydrogen power, and nuclear energy, Deep Isolation is the first company commercializing a nuclear waste disposal in deep boreholes. It offers a uniquely tailored solution to help countries complete the necessary steps to dispose of their waste inventories. With 70 patents issued to date, it leverages proven drilling practices to safely isolate waste deep underground in horizontal, vertical, or slanted borehole repositories.
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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Press Release, Feb 27, 2025
Deep Isolation to Present Groundbreaking Research on Nuclear Waste Disposal at Waste Management 2025 Conference
Phoenix, AZ – Deep Isolation, a leader in nuclear waste disposal solutions, will present multiple research papers at the Waste Management 2025 Conference, taking place from March 9-13, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. The company’s experts will share critical advancements in deep borehole disposal technology and the economic and regulatory challenges surrounding spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level waste (HLW) management. Each paper addresses key challenges for the successful deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Reactors, as identified by new research into the views and priorities of the nuclear industry.
Among the featured presentations is “Opportunities and Barriers for Optimizing Costs Across the Back End of the Advanced Nuclear Industry” which will take place on Wednesday, March 12 at 11:15 AM. Authored by Chris Parker (Deep Isolation), Rod McCullum (Nuclear Energy Institute – NEI), and Dr. Dan Moneghan (Electric Power Research Institute – EPRI), the paper presents the results of new research with stakeholders across the global nuclear industry. The research, conducted with support from Deep Isolation, NEI, and EPRI, highlights the need for policy and regulatory reforms to support integrated waste management strategies for SMRs and Advanced Reactors.
The paper emphasizes that greater focus by policymakers on the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle is needed, as the current regulatory and commercial frameworks are insufficient to support the long-term sustainability of SMRs and Advanced Reactors. While government and industry stakeholders continue to invest in new reactor technologies, the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle—storage, transportation, and disposal of SNF and HLW — remains an underdeveloped and often overlooked component of the industry’s growth strategy.
The research highlights this growing gap, finding that 96% of industry stakeholders agree that public acceptance of new nuclear technologies is advancing faster than consent for waste disposal facilities. Additionally, 72% of industry stakeholders cite regulatory uncertainty as a major barrier to cost optimization in SNF management. These findings underscore the need for action, with stakeholders’ top three priorities being:
- Priority 1: Development of clear policy, regulatory, and commercial frameworks that incentivize individual organizations to optimize safety and cost across the whole back-end system.
- Priority 2: Establishing greater certainty about the generic Waste Acceptance Criteria that geologic facilities will apply when accepting SNF and HLW from SMRs and Advanced Reactors.
- Priority 3: Establishing clear regulatory standards for multi-functional canisters able to manage the safe storage, transport, and disposal of SNF and HLW from SMRs and Advanced Reactors.
“The nuclear industry is making incredible advancements in reactor technology, but we must ensure that waste management solutions keep pace,” said Chris Parker, Chief Commercialization Officer at Deep Isolation. “Deep Isolation is delighted to have worked with NEI and EPRI to develop this evidence-based understanding of what industry stakeholders see as the priorities for work in this vital area.”
Additionally, Deep Isolation will present key findings from its ongoing technology development in presentations that directly address the three priorities identified by nuclear industry stakeholders in the aforementioned research:
- Monday, March 10, 1.45 PM Session 038B Posters – Vaibhav Sharma, Senior Engineer at Deep Isolation, will present the “Economic Case for Universal Canister System (UCS) in Dry Storage, Transportation, and Disposal”. This research examines the economic advantages of a triple-purpose canister for dry storage, transport, and deep borehole or mined geologic repository disposal. Delaying disposal through prolonged interim storage increases costs and radiological risks, while a holistic, lifecycle approach to SNF and HLW management could yield significant savings. This research provides important techno-economic evidence to inform the development of policy, regulatory and commercial frameworks that encourage optimization across the whole back end from storage through to disposal, as identified by research participants under Priority 1.
- Tuesday, March 11, 8:00 AM – Jesse Sloane, Executive VP of Engineering at Deep Isolation, will present his paper titled “Progress on the Development of the Universal Canister System for Advanced Reactor Waste Forms”. This presentation will provide insights into the design, fabrication, and safety assessment of Deep Isolation’s Universal Canister System (UCS) for advanced reactor waste streams. As the first fully integrated waste management system, the UCS eliminates the need for repackaging waste for storage, transportation, or disposal, offering a cost-effective and regulatory-compliant solution. The UCS will set clear Waste Acceptance Criteria for disposal of SMR and Advanced Reactor waste streams in both deep borehole repositories and mined repositories, as per Priority 2 above, and provide the world’s first commercial canister with the multi-functionality identified at Priority 3.
- Tuesday, March 11, 1:45 PM Session 107 (2.10a) – Matt Waples, Director of Engineering at Deep Isolation, will present his paper “Accelerated High-Temperature and Pressure Demonstration of Deep Borehole Disposal Canister Technology”. This presentation will provide results from corrosion testing of materials intended for deep borehole disposal, confirming the durability of the UCS. The findings support the conservatism used in existing conceptual models and will outline next steps for further testing and collaboration.
“We are excited to present our latest research at the 2025 Waste Management Symposia, where industry leaders come together to tackle the most pressing challenges in nuclear waste management,” said Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation. “These presentations showcase our commitment to advancing innovative, cost-effective solutions for deep borehole disposal and ensuring a sustainable future for nuclear energy.”
Deep Isolation’s team will be available for discussions and media interviews throughout the conference at booth #1135. To learn more or schedule a meeting, please contact Laura Salerno; lsalerno@lsprny.com.
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About Deep Isolation
Named as one of Goldman Sachs’ 30 top startups in carbon capture, hydrogen power, and nuclear energy, Deep Isolation is the first company commercializing a nuclear waste disposal in deep boreholes. It offers a uniquely tailored solution to help countries complete the necessary steps to dispose of their waste inventories. With 70 patents issued to date, it leverages proven drilling practices to safely isolate waste deep underground in horizontal, vertical, or slanted borehole repositories.
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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Atomic Insights, Feb 19, 2025
Atomic Show – Episode #327
Rod Baltzer, the CEO of Deep Isolation, visited the Atomic Show to discuss how Deep Isolation is revolutionizing nuclear waste disposal with a proven, science-backed approach that leverages deep borehole technology — a method that is not only widely accepted by experts but also cost-effective and scalable.
As highlighted in the conversation, our work addresses one of the last remaining barriers to nuclear energy expansion by offering a modular, distributed solution that reduces transportation challenges, political obstacles, and costs. With over a decade of innovation, our team continues to advance a practical, safe, and commercially viable path for long-term nuclear waste management.
Listen to the full discussion here: Podcast
Event, June 15-18, 2025 in Chicago, IL
2025 ANS Annual Conference
The ANS conference is one of the largest gatherings of nuclear professionals in the country where the brightest minds engage – and inspire – leaders from across the nuclear science and technology landscape. Our CEO Rod Baltzer will be a panelist alongside government and industry leaders.
Event, March 17-19, 2025 in Washington, DC
2025 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit
The ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit brings together energy scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, engineers, and industry visionaries who dare to disrupt the status quo. Meet our team at booth #720.