US-based nuclear waste storage and disposal company Deep Isolation has signed a technology licensing agreement with contractor and environmental service provider Navarro Research and Engineering. The agreement grants Navarro access to Deep Isolation’s portfolio of intellectual property for use in nuclear and hazardous waste management applications across the US states of Tennessee and Idaho.
The licensing agreement enables Navarro to leverage Deep Isolation’s patented borehole repository systems and canister technologies for nuclear and hazardous waste management, while ensuring that Deep Isolation retains ownership of all licensed intellectual property, including patents and processes.
Deep Isolation’s intellectual property portfolio spans planning methodologies, operational processes, and patented borehole and canister technologies. This agreement with Navarro includes access to US and international patents covering repository systems, hazardous material canisters, and monitoring technologies.
“Global nuclear power capacity is forecast to increase by more than 300 GW by 2050, yet the world has not permanently disposed of any of the spent fuel it has created over the last 70 years,” said Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation. “We believe we have a solution with our deep borehole technology that safely and permanently stores nuclear waste deep underground. Our partnership with Navarro demonstrates the growing market demand for integrated solutions for nuclear waste challenges. By working with Navarro, we are enabling broader commercialisation of our novel technology, while maintaining our leadership in developing scalable, safe, and cost-effective solutions for nuclear waste disposal.”
Dr Susana Navarro, President of Navarro Research & Engineering, said: “Deep Isolation’s patented solutions will help us expand our ability to serve industry and government clients with safe and sustainable waste management strategies. We are excited to integrate their innovations into our work for the long-term benefit of the nuclear sector.”
Deep Isolation is the first company to commercialise nuclear waste disposal in deep boreholes. With 87 patents issued to date, Deep Isolation’s technology leverages proven drilling practices to safely isolate waste deep underground in horizontal, vertical, or slanted borehole repositories. Deep Isolation’s Universal Canister System was developed through a three-year project funded by the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). It is engineered to support integrated management of used fuel and high-level waste from advanced reactors across storage, transportation and eventual disposal.
