The Deep Borehole Demonstration Center is a nonprofit organization, founded in December 2022, with the goal to advance Deep Borehole Disposal through demonstration of the technology and continued development of the supporting safety case. 

Our Mission

To accelerate the global deployment of deep borehole disposal as a solution for the safe geological disposal of radioactive waste, through non-radioactive demonstration, evaluation and dissemination of learnings for borehole disposal technologies and processes, and the use of these learnings to further the generic safety case for borehole disposal. 

Our Guiding Principles

  • Transparency and Inclusion

  • Community Engagement

  • Scientific Excellence

  • A Long-term, Phased, and Prioritized Approach

  • Public-Private Partnership

  • Early Results

Our Approach

  • An independent, nonprofit, science-driven organization

  • Funded on a multinational, public-private partnership basis 

  • An independent Advisory Committee that brings together relevant international stakeholders 

Our Work

  • Initial emplacement and retrieval demonstration in February 2023

  • First full-size prototype canister development in February 2024

  • Full-size prototype canister testing currently underway

“Somebody just needs to do it. Several studies show that … the actual operation is feasible, the safety assessment is feasible, compliance with existing standards is feasible. The problem is that no one has done it.”

— 2021/22 INTERNATIONAL STUDY