Nuclear waste disposal is often seen as a political hurdle, but what if technology could revolutionize how we think about nuclear waste products? Rod Baltzer of Deep Isolation reveals how advanced directional drilling techniques—refined over decades by the oil & gas industry—offer a modular, cost-effective solution to safely bury spent nuclear fuel deep underground. This innovation could reshape spent fuel management and significantly improve the capital efficiency of nuclear waste disposal. Join host Brennan Moore as he and Rod also explore the financial and investment landscape shaping this vital aspect of the nuclear fuel cycle.
This episode of The Green Insider featured an interview with Rod Baltzer, President and CEO of Deep Isolation, who discussed the company’s innovative approach to nuclear waste disposal using horizontal drilling techniques. Rod explained Deep Isolation’s solution for spent nuclear fuel disposal and their global consultancy work in nuclear decommissioning and waste management, highlighting projects in various countries and their collaboration with national radioactive waste management organizations
Join us for an insightful conversation with Rod Baltzer, Chief Executive Officer of Deep Isolation, as he shares how the industry is rethinking long-term disposal and how Deep Isolation are disrupting traditional approaches to managing nuclear waste.
What if the key to unlocking nuclear energy’s future has been buried all along? In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, host Wes Ashworth dives into one of the most overlooked and misunderstood challenges of the clean energy transition: nuclear waste disposal. His guest, Rod Baltzer, is a 25-year veteran of the nuclear waste industry and now CEO of Deep Isolation, a company pioneering deep horizontal borehole disposal for spent nuclear fuel. With a background in finance and a career spanning public and private sector leadership, Rod brings a rare combination of technical insight, regulatory experience, and business acumen to an issue most would rather ignore.
Deep isolation works with government waste management programs to reduce the liability of growing nuclear waste inventories. The company has designed and developed a directional borehole disposal solution that meets strict safety standards and tailor the concept to the waste form, available geology options and specific needs such as footprint allowances.
What if the solution to America’s 70-year nuclear waste problem was hiding in plain sight? Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation, joins Tim Montague to reveal how his company plans to revolutionize nuclear waste storage using existing oil and gas drilling technology.
BERKELEY, CA – Deep Isolation, a leading innovator in nuclear waste disposal technology, announced that CEO Rod Baltzer appeared live on Bloomberg’s Open Interest on Monday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m. ET. The segment aired on Bloomberg Television and streamed online at bloomberg.com/live/us.
Open Interest is Bloomberg’s flagship morning program featuring market insights and emerging innovations in energy and sustainability. Baltzer’s appearance highlighted the growing urgency for nuclear waste disposal solutions amid expanding investment in clean energy technologies.
During the interview, Baltzer discussed Deep Isolation’s patented deep borehole disposal technology, emphasizing the importance of delivering real, permanent solutions for high-level radioactive waste.
“Nobody has ever disposed of [nuclear waste] anywhere in the world, and we have been producing nuclear power for 70 years,” said Baltzer. “We can do better, and we should do better. This is costing American taxpayers billions of dollars. We need to stop that and just do the right thing.”
He also spoke about the rising demand for clean energy, fueled by the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence and the general progress we make every year. “The need for electricity is real,” he added. “Nuclear is a very consistent baseload, steady producer. It is something that is clean.”
Baltzer outlined Deep Isolation’s path forward, including its push for a full-scale, at depth demonstration of its disposal solution — an essential next step for regulatory acceptance and commercial deployment.
Deep Isolation’s appearance on Bloomberg underscores the company’s role as a market leader, uniquely positioned to address investor concerns in nuclear sustainability and waste management. Its approach, which utilizes proven directional drilling methods, delivers cost savings of up to 70% compared to traditional disposal methods, while significantly reducing environmental impact and enhancing safety. Deep Isolation’s participation in international initiatives, such as the WISARD project led by the Nuclear Energy Agency, highlights its commitment to developing integrated approaches to radioactive waste management for the next generation of nuclear power systems.
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About Deep Isolation
Deep Isolation is the first company to commercialize nuclear waste disposal in deep boreholes, offering a uniquely tailored solution to help countries complete the necessary steps to dispose of their waste inventories. With 109 patents granted to date, Deep Isolation’s technology leverages proven drilling practices to safely isolate waste deep underground in horizontal, vertical, or slanted borehole repositories. Deep Isolation’s Universal Canister System (UCS) was developed through a three-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency -Energy (ARPA-E), and is engineered to support integrated management of spent fuel and high-level waste from advanced nuclear reactors across the phases of storage, transportation and eventual disposal.
BERKELEY, CA – Deep Isolation, a leading innovator in nuclear waste disposal solutions, announced today that CEO Rod Baltzer appeared live on Fox Business Network’s Varney & Co. on Wednesday, June 25 at 10:40 a.m. ET. Baltzer discussed how Deep Isolation’s breakthrough technology is addressing one of nuclear energy’s most urgent and unresolved challenges: permanent waste disposal.
The segment spotlighted how Deep Isolation is delivering a long-overdue solution for the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle — offering a disposal pathway for spent nuclear fuel currently stored at reactor sites across the U.S. and globally, as well as for future waste generated by advanced reactors.
With governments accelerating nuclear deployment in pursuit of energy security and carbon neutrality, Baltzer shared how Deep Isolation is positioned to close the nuclear waste gap with a solution that is safe, scalable, and ready to deploy.
“We are at a pivotal moment for nuclear energy,” said Baltzer. “As a clean, reliable, and efficient power source, nuclear is gaining real momentum — including strong federal signals through recent executive orders. Permanent waste disposal must be part of this progress. Deep Isolation is offering a technically proven, globally scalable solution that is ready for deployment.”
Deep Isolation’s patented technology can reduce disposal costs by up to 70% compared to traditional mined repositories — while offering stronger environmental isolation and greater siting flexibility. Supported by a robust portfolio of strategic partners, the company is preparing for a full-scale demonstration project, a key step toward regulatory approval and commercial deployment worldwide.
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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 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.
BERKELEY, CA – Deep Isolation, a leading innovator in nuclear waste disposal technology, CEO Rod Baltzer appeared live on Bloomberg Businessweek this Friday, May 23 at 3:20 p.m. ET. The interview was distributed nationally via Bloomberg Radio broadcast and via simulcast on Bloomberg’s YouTube channel.
Watch the recording above as Baltzer discussed how Deep Isolation’s technology works, why it matters, the company’s future plans, and the growing role of nuclear waste solutions amid rising public and private interest in nuclear energy.
The segment spotlighted Deep Isolation’s patented deep borehole disposal technology — a safe, cost-effective, and scalable solution for the permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste. As nuclear energy gains momentum in the global transition to clean power, solving the back end of the fuel cycle has become more urgent than ever.
Deep Isolation’s technology leverages proven directional drilling techniques and a strong IP portfolio to deliver up to 70% cost savings compared to traditional mined repositories, while significantly improving safety and reducing environmental impact.
“As the U.S. and other nations accelerate the deployment of advanced reactors, solving the waste challenge is essential to realizing nuclear’s full potential,” said Baltzer. “I’m excited to share how Deep Isolation is enabling this future and what’s ahead for us as we move toward commercialization.”
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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 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.
Leonardo Da Vinci said that “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Could that also be the case with nuclear energy? Jack invites Deep Fission CEO Liz Muller to the Power Hour this week to discuss a reactor whose utility is defined by its elegance of design. Jack and Liz talk about nuclear economics, the waste issue and its solutions, and a host of other topics.
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