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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