Research and Development

The emphasis placed by Enresa on R&D has made it possible to improve and optimise each of its processes, technological progress and Spain’s international position as a reference in radioactive waste management.

• R&D on radioactive waste
• R&D Plans
• Research centres
• Separation and transmutation

R&D on radioactive waste

Enresa focuses its R&D efforts on those areas in which there are no fully implemented industrial solutions and those others in which there is room for improvement and optimisation. The objectives of the successive radioactive waste management research and development plans are as follows:

• To provide know-how and tools allowing progress to be made in the development of safe, ideal, acceptable and feasible management mechanisms for all types of radioactive wastes.
• To develop and verify technologies allowing for the development of such management strategies.
• To continuously and systematically improve and optimise the management mechanisms already implemented.
• To promote the social, scientific and political acceptance of the management mechanisms used by means of fluid, open and clear communications transmitting trust and transparency.
• To ensure that the progress made in R&D is transferred to radioactive waste management, improving safety and optimising costs.

R&D Plans

In accordance with the courses of action set out in the 6th General Radioactive Waste Plan, four technical areas of work have been established:

• Waste technology.
• Centralised Temporary Storage (CTS).
• Long-term safety assessment.
• Support for facilities.

The Centre for Energy-Related, Environmental and Technological Research, Spanish universities and companies and other agencies from different companies habitually cooperate with Enresa. The Enresa projects bring together almost 40 organisations and more than 300 research workers. The economic resources set aside for research and development amount to six million Euros per year.

R&D Plan for 2004-2009

Technological research and development and demonstration plan for the management of radioactive wastes, 2004-2009 Detalles

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Research centres

Logotype of the Mestral Technology Centre

Mestral technology centre

Located at the Vandellós I installations, the Mestral Technology Centre was set up to cover research and development needs in relation to the dismantling of nuclear power plants. In collaboration with different universities, and most especially with the Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, the centre works on various lines of research in this field.

Its objective is to provide technological solutions for different processes relating to the decommissioning of nuclear facilities.

Work is performed basically in three areas: management of the Vandellós I dormancy period, research on technologies, materials and procedures for future dismantling projects and the training of qualified professionals.

Technology park associated with the CTS facility

The CTS facility and its associated technology park

The project for the construction of the Centralised Temporary Storage facility also contemplates the creation of a technology and business park at which basic research and applied research on high level wastes will be carried out.

This technology park will be integrated in the research, development and innovation plan on energy and the environment.

Waste quality verification laboratory

The El Cabril centralised low and intermediate level waste disposal facility has a waste quality verification laboratory. Analyses and tests on conventional materials and tests on radioactive wastes are carried out at this installation to determine their characteristics.

Collaboration between Enresa and Universities

The research and development carried out by Enresa has always benefited from the participation of different Spanish universities.

Separation and transmutation

One of the most relevant efforts being made in research on radioactive wastes addresses the field of separation and transmutation.

Transmutation is the process by which a chemical element becomes transformed into another, thereby offering the possibility of converting long-lived radioactive elements into other short-lived or stable elements, producing new less radioactive and toxic atomic nuclei.

Transmutation is contemplated internationally as a possible route for the management of high level wastes and spent fuel, which would reduce the quantity of wastes to be managed, or at least their impact.