Within the High Level Waste Unit of CIEMAT (HLWU), we work to contribute to nuclear energy sustainability and social acceptance, looking for solutions for the current energy challenges, as well as innovative technological developments towards more sustainable energy sources. Our current R&D activities are the result of more than 20 years of experience in the High Level Waste management field, where, our main objective is to contribute to the global SNF and HLW management by evaluating the options feasibility to guarantee a safety management and to minimize the volume, as well as to reduce the inventory and the potential radiotoxicity. Accordingly, the particular objectives of HLWU can be divided in two: on the one hand, the characterization and study of SNF behaviour and evolution in final disposal conditions; and on the other hand, the studies to provide tools and the expertise necessary in HLW management for alternative approaches.

These activities are aligned with strategic national and international initiatives. At national level, they are circumscribed in collaboration with national waste agencies (ENRESA, CSN) fulfilling the strategic role of maintaining acquired knowledge and a support national entity for the evaluation and national decision-making of potential scenarios, as well as to support the R&D&i framework and current priorities of ENRESA (6PGRR and 7PGRR) and other national platforms or institutions (State Plan for Technical Scientific Research and Innovation 2017-2020, CSN, CEIDEN, ENUSA). At international level, the HLWU activities are framed within EU strategic lines backed up by different research programs and platforms (EURATOM (Horizon 2020 and HORIZON EUROPE 2021-2025), SNETP / ESNII-NUGENIA, IGD-TP, OECD-NEA, IEA-WO, IAEA, EERA) created to scientifically support decision-making policies on nuclear fission energy, based on sustainability, environmental, economic and scientific/technical criteria, about possible foreseen scenarios within the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan).

Head of Unit: Hitos Galán