Radioactive Waste Disposal

Fortum offers design and consulting services on a whole range of disposal methods. As both nuclear power plant and nuclear waste facility licensee and operator, we have unique experience in developing safe and economical disposal solutions for different radioactive waste types.

Nuclear waste management
From the near-surface to deep geological

Our expertise covers both the disposal of low-and-intermediate level waste (LILW) and high level waste (HLW, spent nuclear fuel). We have expertise from designing different types of final disposal solutions such as near-surface disposal and deep geological disposal.

Safety
Safety case & long-term safety

The cornerstone in the design of final disposal is to ensure and study the long-term safety. We have participated to compilation of several safety cases demonstrating the long-term safety of the radioactive waste disposal.

Final disposal
Final disposal of spent nuclear fuel

Fortum has strong capabilities to offer engineering and project implementation services for final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. We are one of the two owners of the Finnish Posiva, the spent nuclear fuel disposal company that will start the operation of the deep geological repository in mid-2020s, as the first organization in the world.

In addition to operating our own facilities, we have served several external customers to design and develop their waste disposal solutions for all types of nuclear waste. Our world-class expertise covers both the disposal of low-and-intermediate level waste (LILW) and high level waste (HLW, spent nuclear fuel). We have expertise from designing different types of final disposal solutions such as near-surface disposal and deep geological disposal. We have compiled several safety cases and other analyses for the final disposal of different types of radioactive waste.

Our main offering related to different types of repositories (deep geological and near surface):

  • Design of a low and intermediate level waste final repository
  • Licencing
  • Cost analysis
  • Safety case: documentation demonstrating the long-term safety of the disposal
  • Operational safety analysis
  • Radiation safety analysis
  • Commissioning services
  • Services related to disposal of spent fuel

Near-surface disposal

One option for the disposal of very-low and low level solid radioactive waste is to store the waste in near surface disposal facilities. Fortum has long experience on waste with a very low level of radioactivity in its own near surface disposal facility at Kumla Sweden. Additionally, Fortum has participated in different near surface disposal projects and executed safety cases and analyses e.g. for radioactive waste landfill sites in Finland.

Disposal of low-and-intermediate level waste (LILW)

We provide safety cases and other expert services for the final disposal of Low and Intermediate Level Waste (LILW). By operating and developing our own repositories for low-and-intermediate level waste at Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant, Fortum has gained decades of practical experience about safe, efficient and cost-effective disposal solutions for low-and-intermediate level waste. We want to help our customers to ensure the safe and economical disposal of low- and intermediate-level waste.

Basics of the Fortum’s LILW concept

  • LILW disposal facilities are located underground on the NPP site. Design of LILW disposal facilities are optimised taking into account site’s overall waste management strategies, incl. planning and defining of waste routes and waste logistics
  • Separate spaces for low and intermediate level waste
  • Facility includes both engineered and natural barriers
  • NPP organisation operates the LILW disposal facilities

Key Benefits

  • Minimised effort to get public acceptance through integration with the NPP site
  • Minimised O&M-costs through the NPP site integration and lack of O&M after site closure
  • Minimised occupational exposure through the separated spaces for low and intermediate level waste

Final disposal of spent nuclear fuel

Fortum has strong capabilities to offer engineering and project implementation services for final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. We are one of the two owners of the Finnish Posiva, the spent nuclear fuel disposal company that will start the operation of the deep geological repository in mid-2020s, as the first organization in the world. Over the years, Fortum as an owner has overseen Posiva’s project from early on, all the way through the siting, design and constructions phases to the current point, where commissioning and operation are being planned and pilots for closure and post-closure are ongoing. Fortum has also been actively involved in the final disposal project by providing technical support to Posiva in several areas of expertise.

Antti Ketolainen

Director
Decommissioning and Waste
Tel: +358 40 751 8956
Antti [dot] V [dot] Ketolainen [at] fortum [dot] com

Storage and Disposal

Radioactive Waste Storages

Fortum has strong capabil­ities to support customers with design of interim storage for spent nuclear fuel as well as for low-and-inter­me­diate level radioactive waste storages.

Read more

Nuclear Waste Management

Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Management, Planning and Optimisation

Fortum offers optimisation of nuclear waste management practises in a numerous areas.

Read more
Nuclear power

We offer services for the whole life-cycle of nuclear power plants

More about Nuclear Services
Nuclear waste management

Radioactive Waste Storage and Disposal

Storage and Disposal