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The Celebrated History of Storing Used Fuel Below Ground

March 12, 2018

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First conceived after the shock of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Holtec’s record of storing used nuclear fuel in a retrievable configuration below-the-ground is now 12 years old. In 2006, Humboldt Bay became the first plant to feature subterranean storage, which is so unobtrusive and produces such negligible dose that the path to the beach runs in close proximity to the ISFSI! The HI-STAR transportation systems stored at Humboldt are ready for shipment any time.

Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel in Transport Ready Systems at PG&E’s Humboldt Bay

Ameren’s Callaway deployed the first canister based below-ground-storage system (called “HI-STORM UMAX”) in 2014 confirming the maturation of the technology.
 

Ameren's Callaway Uses the HI-STORM UMAX System to Store Used Nuclear Fuel

Southern California Edison’s San Onofre nuclear plant selected a seismically hardened version of the HI-STORM UMAX in 2014. The first canister was lowered in its fortified cavity at San Onofre on January 31, 2018. Seventy-two more canisters will be loaded in a continuous campaign by mid-2019.
 

HI-STORM UMAX at Southern California Edison’s San Onofre Nuclear Station

Thanks to its invulnerable safety and structural ruggedness credentials, several U.S. and overseas customers are eying the HI-STORM UMAX technology for their storage needs. The true value of this technology, however, will be realized in the desert plateau of southeast New Mexico where Holtec and ELEA have partnered to build a 10,000-cell storage system called HI-STORE CIS to meet our nation’s long-held aspiration for Consolidated Interim Storage.
 
 

Exterior View of Recently Loaded Canister at San Onofre Nuclear Plant

 
“HI-STORM UMAX is the epitome of safety and security for dry storage of spent nuclear fuel.  The successful deployment of under-ground-storage technology and Holtec’s actions licensing the HI-STORE CIS facility are true demonstrations that consolidated interim storage is achievable,” concludes Holtec’s Vice President of Business Development, Joy Russell.

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