Euradwaste '08 - EU Bookshop - Europa

filled – one key example being colloid behaviour. In the future, new analytical techniques, such as
for measurement of the Redox conditions in site characterisation, will provide ever-increasingly
detailed and more reliable information, thereby enabling refinement in the models and in the understanding
of processes. However, in the meantime, the safety assessment modellers are generally
satisfied with the adequacy with which they can represent chemical transport aspects.
Safety assessment of geological disposal: Safety assessment is an established, everyday activity.
Today, it takes a practical and conservative approach by overestimating impacts, but future developments
will allow it to become more realistic. In particular, these developments will enable a better
treatment of uncertainties and refinement of the coupling of the various processes involved in
geological disposal of high-level waste.
Public Involvement in repository programmes: Controversial construction projects will always
be affected by the NIMBY (“not in my backyard”) syndrome – none more so than radioactive waste
facilities. Experience has taught the implementing organisations and the proponents in general that
gaining the trust of the local populations is essential, and this can only be achieved via constructive
dialogue, transparency, and involvement and empowerment of local communities in the decisionmaking
process. However, this remains a very complex socio-political issue, which continues to be
linked, especially by opposition groups, to the continued use of nuclear power.
Partitioning & Transmutation
Strategy studies: Analysis of fuel cycle strategies and the balancing of production and consumption
of waste, including the type of research that would be needed to bring the techniques up to a
level of industrial application and the likely timescales involved.
Partitioning: Development of efficient processes for the chemical separation of long-lived radionuclides.
The aim has been to develop detailed flow-sheets for the separation of desired longlived
isotopes using chemical processes. The synthesis of innovative and selective organic extractants
has also been studied with a view to directly extracting minor actinides from high-level radioactive
waste.
Transmutation: Research aimed at gathering all scientific and technical data necessary to carry out
preliminary design studies of an accelerator driven sub-critical demonstrator reactor for transmutation
of the most hazardous radionuclides. In particular, transmutation using a sub-critical accelerator-driven
system (ADS) has been investigated. The practicability of such a transmuter on an industrial
scale requires the operation of an experimental ADS device, and preliminary design studies
of an experimental ADS have addressed critical points of the whole system, such as the proton accelerator,
neutron-producing spallation target unit, cooling systems, reactor housing of the subcritical
core etc. In addition, future R&D needs were identified, safety and licensing issues defined,
costs assessed and a timetable for realisation outlined.
2.2 FP6 – the new funding instruments
In FP6 (2002-2006) the EC introduced new funding instruments to enable a more efficient and effective
structuring of EU research, to reduce fragmentation and to promote European centres of excellence
and mobility of researchers, all in line with the objectives of the European Research Area
(ERA). To attract EU support, research groups were encouraged to join forces in collaborative
partnerships called Networks of Excellence (NoE) and Integrated Projects (IP). A NoE is a means
to promote sustainable integration of key research organisations in a given field. An IP on the other
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