Nuclear Waste Management (IFN-2)

A colorful, abstract image featuring a variety of shapes and patterns, including a prominent structure on the left and scattered, irregular forms throughout. (Mistral: Pixtral Large 2411, 2026-05-27)

Research on the Safe Management of Nuclear Waste and Reactor Safety

Solutions and Expertise for Nuclear Waste Management and the Safety Assessment of Nuclear Power Plants

The last nuclear power plants in Germany were taken offline in 2023. Solutions for decommissioning and the management of the resulting radioactive waste will remain necessary for decades to come. Since nuclear energy will continue to be used in neighboring European countries, it remains essential for Germany to possess expertise in reactor safety. Against this background, research at IFN-2 focuses on the safe management of highly radioactive waste, selected topics in reactor safety, and international safeguards. This work integrates experimental studies and simulations. To this end, we operate radiochemical laboratories and benefit from the excellent computational infrastructure at Forschungszentrum Jülich. Our activities are part of the Helmholtz Association’s NUSAFE (Nuclear Waste Management and Safety) research program and are complemented by national and international research projects. Training the next generation of experts is a key priority for us. To this end, doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers strengthen our team.

Institute director: Prof. Dirk Bosbach

Research topics

Concepts for the management of radioactive waste from fusion

The IFN Institute is currently developing a targeted research program aimed at transferring existing expertise in nuclear engineering (IFN-2) to fusion facilities (IFN-1, HGF Fusion Program) within the framework of the HGF NUSAFE Program - with a focus on operational safety, strategies for minimizing radioactive waste from fusion operations, safeguards measures, and fundamental materials research.

High Level Radioactive Waste

IFN-2 investigates the long-term behavior of high-level radioactive waste under conditions relevant to both geological disposal and long-term interim storage. Its research focuses on experimental studies of irradiated mixed-oxide (MOX) fuels and vitrified high-level radioactive waste to improve safety assessments and strengthen the scientific basis for the safe disposal of radioactive waste.

Development of Expertise in Nuclear Safety

Through the integration of research, education, scientific infrastructure, and international collaboration, IFN-2 contributes to maintaining and developing the expertise required for the responsible long-term assessment and management of nuclear systems and the safe management of radioactive waste in Germany beyond the operational phase of nuclear energy.

Safety of Small Modular Reactors

IFN-2 conducts research on safety and waste management concepts for small modular reactors (SMRs). Its work focuses on accident scenario simulations, the development of safeguards concepts, and the assessment of advanced reactor designs to ensure safety, proliferation resistance, and the safe management of radioactive waste from the earliest stages of reactor development.

High-fidelity description of repository system evolution across scales

IFN-2 develop cross-scale experimental and computational approaches to develop improved constitutive equations for reactive transport modelling (RTM) and to include pore-scale processes into large scale repository system analyses to enhance process system understanding across scales (upscaling) and to reduce uncertainties and conservatisms in safety assessments.

Institute of Fusion Energy and Nuclear Waste Management (IFN)