EURAD-2

EURAD-2 is the “European Partnership on Radioactive Waste Management,” funded by the European Commission. The research programme on the safe management of radioactive waste covers all stages of the process chain, including predisposal treatment of waste and its geological disposal, and is supported by a comprehensive knowledge management programme. The EURAD-2 work programme currently comprises 16 R&D work packages and six strategic studies. IFN-2 is involved in a number of these work packages, which reflect the full breadth of our portfolio in the field of research for the safe management of radioactive wastes.

The RAMPEC work package comprises experimental work and modelling studies for an improved description of the mobility of radionuclides during various geochemical transients. Building on the DITUSC strategic study, the ThermoGAP work package combines experimental and modelling approaches to close key thermodynamic data gaps, thus supporting the safety case for the disposal of nuclear waste. The SAREC work package focuses on the release of safety-relevant radionuclides from spent nuclear fuel under conditions relevant to geological disposal. The HERMES work package aims to develop high-fidelity numerical models for simulating strongly coupled THMC processes in the repository near-field and to optimize repository design, including the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence. The aim of the work package STRATA-AI is to evaluate and develop AI and machine learning methodologies for integrating subsurface datasets to enhance geological understanding and predictive modelling in support of the siting of geological disposal facilities. The involvement of young researchers in EURAD-2 is of paramount importance. This contributes significantly to the development of young talent within a European perspective.