US-based nuclear start-ups Deep Fission and Deep Fission have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on used fuel management for Deep Fission’s underground reactors.
Deep Fission, founded in 2023 by father-daughter team Elizabeth and Richard Muller, is developing a project using standardised pressurised water reactor (PWR) technology for a modular nuclear microreactor (15 MWe) that can be installed at a depth of one mile in a 30-inch borehole. Deep Isolation, a leader in deep borehole nuclear waste disposal solutions, is developing systems to dispose of used fuel from commercial nuclear reactors using horizontal drill hole technology.
Under this MOU, Deep Isolation and Deep Fission will explore the potential licensing and use of Deep Isolation’s patented underground disposal technology for managing used nuclear fuel and radioactive waste from Deep Fission’s underground reactors. Deep Fission aims to integrate Deep Isolation’s deep borehole repository technology into its operations, providing international partners with a seamless, long-term waste solution.
“Nuclear power generation requires a waste disposal solution, and responsible users should plan for waste management from the start,” said Deep Fission co-founder & CEO Elizabeth Muller. “Deep geological disposal is the globally preferred approach, and while other countries are advancing underground repositories, there is an opportunity for the US to take further steps in this direction. Deep Isolation’s solution presents an attractive option for Deep Fission as we work toward a sustainable nuclear future.”
Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation, noted: “As new nuclear technologies emerge, a forward-thinking approach to waste disposal is critical. Ensuring that nuclear waste has a reliable and permanent disposal method is essential for the industry’s long-term success.”
The collaboration represents a major stride toward resolving the long-standing challenge of managing high-level nuclear waste and offers a more integrated approach to nuclear energy management.
