Re:Energy Prices in Europe Hit Records After Wind Stops Blowing
by morsch on Monday September 13, 2021 @10:31AM
(#28511975)
You must mean tomorrow, because today, we just keep the stuff around in intermediate facilities.
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Re:Energy Prices in Europe Hit Records After Wind Stops Blowing
by gambiting on Monday September 13, 2021 @10:42AM
(#28512119)
The thing is, we know how to store nuclear waste in such a way that it's a solved problem forever. Literally gone and not a worry for any generation from now until forever.
It's called deep borehole disposal[0]. Drill a hole all the way down to Earth's crust, put your waste there = it's not coming back on anything shorter than geological timescale. " It is estimated that only 800 boreholes would be sufficient to store the entire existing nuclear waste stockpile of the USA"[0]
From what I understand it isn't being done for two reasons:
1) cost
2) once stored this way it's almost impossible to retrieve. Spent nuclear fuel is kept around partially because we know we might be able to recycle it into fresh fuel in the future. If we dump it in a hole deep in the ground it's gone forever.
Re:Energy Prices in Europe Hit Records After Wind Stops Blowing
by fomine3 on Monday September 13, 2021 @08:38PM
(#28518761)
The problem is that there's no place where not anyone's backyard. Even the big US failed for Yucca Mountain.
Re:Energy Prices in Europe Hit Records After Wind Stops Blowing
by gambiting on Tuesday September 14, 2021 @01:56AM
(#28520784)
You can live on top of the borehole though, no issues. It's not like the area has to be cordoned off forever.
Re:Energy Prices in Europe Hit Records After Wind Stops Blowing
by fomine3 on Tuesday September 14, 2021 @02:49AM
(#28521188)
Technically true, but not work for most people's feelings.
Re:Energy Prices in Europe Hit Records After Wind Stops Blowing
by chorsestudios on Monday September 13, 2021 @10:46AM
(#28512164)
Doesn't seem much different then designating space for landfills and other forms of waste. Sewage treatment plants aren't pleasant but provide great benefit to society.
Re:Energy Prices in Europe Hit Records After Wind Stops Blowing
by junon on Monday September 13, 2021 @11:20AM
(#28512594)
We can currently refine waste down to levels safe enough to keep out of containment facilities, and can dispose of it by landfill in a way that will have zero ecological risk or impact, forever.
So no, not "tomorrow".
Re:Energy Prices in Europe Hit Records After Wind Stops Blowing
by morsch on Tuesday September 14, 2021 @06:52AM
(#28522787)
In Germany, today, there is no refinement. I'd be interested about how much refinement is happening as a percentage of waste generated, globally. At first glance, the US doesn't do it, either, for example.