Deep Isolation been selected for the DOE’s ARPA-E SCALEUP Ready program, one of only two projects to receive federal backing from a pool of up to $40 million.

Deep Isolation announced in late March 2026 that federally funded computer modeling shows burying high-level waste from recycled nuclear fuel in deep boreholes could keep radiation exposure levels several orders of magnitude below safety limits set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The SCALEUP program bridges the gap between pilot-scale demonstration and full commercial deployment.

Deep Isolation’s recent recognition enables them to demonstrate and scale permanent nuclear waste solution for commercial deployment.

The project includes a full-scale pilot in Texas, aiming to provide the world’s first commercial-ready deep borehole nuclear waste disposal solution.

California-based Deep Isolation joins ARPA-E’s SCALEUP programme to validate its Universal Canister System and demonstrate deep borehole disposal of advanced reactor waste through a commercial pilot in Texas.

The award under the ARPA-E SCALEUP Ready programme will enable full-scale field testing of Deep Isolation’s Universal Canister System.

Deep Isolation Nuclear, Inc. is using the 2026 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in San Diego to publicly debut its full-scale Universal Canister System (UCS) prototype, positioning the company’s borehole-based solution as a potential standard for long-term nuclear waste management. 

Deep Isolation Nuclear has been selected for the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E SCALEUP Ready program, positioning the company to move its Universal Canister System from development into commercial deployment as an integrated nuclear waste management solution. 

SCALEUP program to support commercial pilot of Universal Canister System and deep borehole disposal in Texas.