Preliminary safety analyses in the high-level radioactive waste site selection procedure in Germany
Eva-Maria Hoyer
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
BGE mbH – Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung, Federal Company for
Radioactive Waste Disposal, 31224 Peine, Germany
Elco Luijendijk
BGE mbH – Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung, Federal Company for
Radioactive Waste Disposal, 31224 Peine, Germany
Paulina Müller
BGE mbH – Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung, Federal Company for
Radioactive Waste Disposal, 31224 Peine, Germany
Phillip Kreye
BGE mbH – Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung, Federal Company for
Radioactive Waste Disposal, 31224 Peine, Germany
Florian Panitz
BGE mbH – Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung, Federal Company for
Radioactive Waste Disposal, 31224 Peine, Germany
Dennis Gawletta
BGE mbH – Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung, Federal Company for
Radioactive Waste Disposal, 31224 Peine, Germany
Wolfram Rühaak
BGE mbH – Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung, Federal Company for
Radioactive Waste Disposal, 31224 Peine, Germany
Related authors
Paulina Müller, Eva-Maria Hoyer, Anne Bartetzko, and Wolfram Rühaak
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 72, 73–76, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-73-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-73-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The German search for a disposal site for high-level nuclear waste is in its first phase. In the so-called
representative preliminary safety assessmentsthe possible future evolutions of potential disposal sites will be developed from our understanding of their past evolution. Erosion processes connected to glaciations can reach especially deep and could threaten a repository, while being very hard to predict. This makes them important to the site selection process.
Eva-Maria Hoyer, Phillip Kreye, Thomas Lohser, and Wolfram Rühaak
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 37–38, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-37-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-37-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This contribution will provide an overview of the methodology of the forthcoming preliminary safety assessments as a significant part of the next steps in the German site selection procedure.
Eva-Maria Hoyer, Paulina Müller, Phillip Kreye, Christoph Behrens, Marc Wengler, Tobias Wengorsch, and Wolfram Rühaak
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 39–40, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-39-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-39-2021, 2021
Thomas Kohl, Ingo Sass, Olaf Kolditz, Christoph Schüth, Wolfram Rühaak, Jürgen Schamp, Judith Bremer, Bastian Rudolph, Katharina Schätzler, and Eva Schill
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 2, 135–136, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-2-135-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-2-135-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Crystalline rocks are being considered as potential host rocks in the ongoing search for a suitable site for a nuclear waste repository in Germany, where there is no existing experience in terms of excavating a repository in crystalline rocks. The planned underground laboratory GeoLaB addressing crystalline geothermal reservoirs offers unique opportunities for synergies with nuclear waste disposal research and development, especially in the exploration and building phases.
Michael Werres, Frederik Fahrendorf, Thomas Lohser, and Wolfram Rühaak
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 2, 179–180, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-2-179-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-2-179-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The preliminary representative safety analyses in Phase I, Step 2 of the site selection procedure for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste in Germany requires, according to Section 7 (6) No. 4 EndlSiUntV, that
the basic possibility of safe operation shall be demonstrated but that a complete operational safety analysis does not need to be performed. This paper provides a summary of the methodology developed by the Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung (BGE) on this topic.
Paulina Müller, Eva-Maria Hoyer, Anne Bartetzko, and Wolfram Rühaak
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 72, 73–76, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-73-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-73-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The German search for a disposal site for high-level nuclear waste is in its first phase. In the so-called
representative preliminary safety assessmentsthe possible future evolutions of potential disposal sites will be developed from our understanding of their past evolution. Erosion processes connected to glaciations can reach especially deep and could threaten a repository, while being very hard to predict. This makes them important to the site selection process.
Christoph Behrens, Elco Luijendijk, Phillip Kreye, Florian Panitz, Merle Bjorge, Marlene Gelleszun, Alexander Renz, Shorash Miro, and Wolfram Rühaak
Adv. Geosci., 58, 109–119, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-58-109-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-58-109-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The mathematical basics of a numerical code developed specifically for the search of a site for high-level radioactive waste in Germany is presented.
The code is developed in accordance to the specific regulations. First tests of the code are shown.
Eva-Maria Hoyer, Phillip Kreye, Thomas Lohser, and Wolfram Rühaak
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 37–38, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-37-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-37-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This contribution will provide an overview of the methodology of the forthcoming preliminary safety assessments as a significant part of the next steps in the German site selection procedure.
Eva-Maria Hoyer, Paulina Müller, Phillip Kreye, Christoph Behrens, Marc Wengler, Tobias Wengorsch, and Wolfram Rühaak
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 39–40, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-39-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-39-2021, 2021
Gesa Ziefle, Tuanny Cajuhi, Sebastian Condamin, Stephan Costabel, Oliver Czaikowski, Antoine Fourriére, Larissa Friedenberg, Markus Furche, Nico Graebling, Bastian Graupner, Jürgen Hesser, David Jaeggi, Kyra Jantschik, Tilo Kneuker, Olaf Kolditz, Franz Königer, Herbert Kunz, Ben Laurich, Jobst Maßmann, Christian Ostertag-Henning, Dorothee Rebscher, Karsten Rink, Wolfram Rühaak, Senecio Schefer, Rainer Schuhmann, Marc Wengler, and Klaus Wieczorek
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 79–81, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-79-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-79-2021, 2021
Swarup Chauhan, Kathleen Sell, Wolfram Rühaak, Thorsten Wille, and Ingo Sass
Geosci. Model Dev., 13, 315–334, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-315-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-315-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We present CobWeb 1.0, a graphical user interface for analysing tomographic images of geomaterials. CobWeb offers different machine learning techniques for accurate multiphase image segmentation and visualizing material specific parameters such as pore size distribution, relative porosity and volume fraction. We demonstrate a novel approach of dual filtration and dual segmentation to eliminate edge enhancement artefact in synchrotron-tomographic datasets and provide the computational code.
Swarup Chauhan, Wolfram Rühaak, Hauke Anbergen, Alen Kabdenov, Marcus Freise, Thorsten Wille, and Ingo Sass
Solid Earth, 7, 1125–1139, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-1125-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-7-1125-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Machine learning techniques are a promising alternative for processing (phase segmentation) of 3-D X-ray computer tomographic rock images. Here the performance and accuracy of different machine learning techniques are tested. The aim is to classify pore space, rock grains and matrix of four distinct rock samples. The porosity obtained based on the segmented XCT images is cross-validated with laboratory measurements. Accuracies of the different methods are discussed and recommendations proposed.
Phillip Kreye and Günter Meon
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 2557–2571, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2557-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-2557-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The objective of this study is to improve the reliability of large-scale hydrological models. In environmental policies, many decisions are based on prognosis simulated by models. The parameterisation of these models is challenging due to the scarcity of available data. Particularly, parameters of soil properties are rare, but have a strong influence on model results. To account for the heterogeneity of soil properties, we developed a methodology that does not need additional field data.
Cited articles
BGE: Sub-areas Interim Report pursuant to Section 13 StandAG, 436 pp.,
available at: https://www.bge.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Standortsuche/Wesentliche_Unterlagen/Zwischenbericht_Teilgebiete/Zwischenbericht_Teilgebiete_-_Englische_Fassung_barrierefrei.pdf (last access: 30 August 2021), 2020a.
BGE: Sub-areas pursuant to § 13 Site Selcetion Act (StandAG),
available at: https://www.bge.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Standortsuche/Wesentliche_Unterlagen/Zwischenbericht_Teilgebiete/20210630_Karte_UEbersichtskarte_Teilgebiete_DIN_A4_farblich_hinterlegt__englisch_.jpg
(last access: 30 August 2021), 2020b.
BGE: History of the search for repositories, available at: https://www.bge.de/en/sitesearch/history-of-the-search-for-a-repository/
(last access: 30 August 2021), 2021a.
BGE: Steckbrief für ein Gebiet zur Methodenentwicklung – Gebiet zur
Methodenentwicklung: Opalinuston, 3 pp., available at: https://www.bge.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Standortsuche/Wesentliche_Unterlagen/Methodik/Phase_I_Schritt_2/04_Steckbrief_Gebiet_zur_Methodenentwicklung_Opalinuston_TG_001_00_barrierefrei.pdf (last access: 30 August 2021), 2021b.
BGE: Steckbrief für ein Gebiet zur Methodenentwicklung – Gebiet zur
Methodenentwicklung: Salzstock Bahlburg, 2 pp., available at: https://www.bge.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Standortsuche/Wesentliche_Unterlagen/Methodik/Phase_I_Schritt_2/01_Steckbrief_Gebiet_zur_Methodenentwicklung_Bahlburg_TG_035_00_barrierefrei.pdf (last access: 30 August 2021), 2021c.
BGE: Steckbrief für ein Gebiet zur Methodenentwicklung – Gebiet zur
Methodenentwicklung: Saxothuringikum, 2 pp., available at: https://www.bge.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Standortsuche/Wesentliche_Unterlagen/Methodik/Phase_I_Schritt_2/03_Steckbriefe_Gebiete_zur_Methodenentwicklung_Saxothuringikum_TG_009_00_REV01_barrierefrei.pdf (last access: 30 August 2021), 2021d.
BGE: Steckbrief für ein Gebiet zur Methodenentwicklung – Gebiet zur
Methodenentwicklung: Thüringer Becken, 3 pp., available at: https://www.bge.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Standortsuche/Wesentliche_Unterlagen/Methodik/Phase_I_Schritt_2/02_Steckbrief_Gebiet_zur_Methodenentwicklung_Thueringer_Becken_TG_078_02_barrierefrei.pdf (last access: 30 August 2021), 2021e.
Bilke, L., Flemisch, B., Kalbacher, T., Kolditz, O., Helmig, R., and Nagel,
T.: Development of Open-Source Porous Media Simulators: Principles and
Experiences, Transport Porous Med., 130, 337–361,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-019-01310-1, 2019.
Capouet, M., Carter, A., and Ciambrella, M.: International Features, Events
and Processes (IFEP) List for the Deep Geological Disposal of Radioactive
Waste. Version 3.0, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, Paris,
2019.
Diersch, H.-J. G.: FEFLOW – Finite Element Modeling of Flow, Mass and Heat
Transport in Porous and Fractured Media, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg,
Berlin, Germany, 996 pp., https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38739-5, 2014.
EndlSiAnfV: Endlagersicherheitsanforderungsverordnung vom 6. Oktober 2020
(BGBl. I S. 2094), 2020.
EndlSiUntV: Endlagersicherheitsuntersuchungsverordnung vom 6. Oktober 2020
(BGBl. I S. 2094, 2103), 2020.
GeolDG: Geologiedatengesetz vom 19. Juni 2020 (BGBl. I S. 1387), 2020.
IAEA: Geological Disposal Facilities for Radioactive Waste, International
Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, Specific Safety Guide No. SSG-14,
124, 104 pp., 2011a.
IAEA: Disposal of Radioactive Waste, International Atomic Energy Agency,
Vienna, Austria, Specific Safety Requirements No. SSR-5, 83, 62 pp., 2011b.
Kolditz, O., Görke, U.-J., Shao, H., and Wang, W. (Eds.):
Thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical processes in porous media: benchmarks and
examples, Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin, Heidelberg, 399 pp., 2012.
OECD Nuclear Energy Agency: Features, Events and Processes (FEPs) for
Geologic Disposal of Radioactive Waste: An International Database, OECD
Publishing, Paris, 2000.
StandAG: Standortauswahlgesetz vom 5. Mai 2017 (BGBl. I S. 1074), das
zuletzt durch Artikel 1 des Gesetzes vom 7. Dezember 2020 (BGBl. I S. 2760)
geändert worden ist, 2017, last updated 2020.
Short summary
The German site selection procedure to identify a site for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste is ongoing. The current step of the procedure includes representative preliminary safety analyses, for which the methodology is described and a first insight on the implementation is given. We aim to provide a document to boost communication and discussion with the scientific community and the public, although the implementation is at an early stage and may be subject to numerous changes.
The German site selection procedure to identify a site for the disposal of high-level...