Abstract
Cost assessments of geological disposal of carbon dioxide and radioactive waste are presented. The scope of the cost assessments covers a range of activities from research, site identification, licensing and construction to operation, closure and post-closure monitoring of the disposal sites. The most meaningful indicator for comparison is the disposal cost per unit of electricity produced. The comparative assessment reveals important differences between the two waste products in the volume of material involved and the precautions to be taken that determine the cost per kWh indicator. The timing of investment to establish the disposal site is an important difference with significant cost implications: investments must be completed before starting CO2 capture from fossil power plants whereas investments in radioactive waste repositories can be postponed for decades after the waste emerges from nuclear power reactors. The investment costs are significant and mid-course corrections are expensive; hence, both technologies need stable regulatory systems.
Keywords
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alie C, Douglas PL, Davison J (2009) On the operability of power plants with CO2 capture and storage. In: Gale J, Herzog H, Braitsch J (eds) Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Energy Procedia 1:1521–1526
Bachu S, McEwen T (2011) Geological media and factors for the long-term emplacement and isolation of carbon dioxide and radioactive waste. In this volume
BCG (The Boston Consulting Group) (2008) Carbon capture and storage. A solution to the problem of carbon emissions. A Focus by The Boston Consulting Group. http://www.bcg.com/documents/file15263.pdf
Bosetti V, Carroro C, Galeotti M, Massetti E, Tanovi M (2006) WITCH: a world induced technical change hybrid model. Energy J 27(Special issue 2):13–38
Celebi M, Graves F (2009) Volatile CO2 prices discourage CCS investment. The Brattle Group. http://www.hks.harvard.edu/hepg/Papers/2009/Celebi-Graves_CO2%20Long%20Volatility%20Paper_Final.pdf
Chapman NA, McCombie C, Richardson P (2008) Work package 3: economic aspects of regional repositories. SAPIERR II—strategic action plan for implementation of European Regional repositories: stage 2. European Commission. http://www.erdo-wg.eu/ERDO-WG_website/Documents_files/SAPIERR%20II%20WP-3%20web.pdf
CoRWM (Committee on Radioactive Waste Management) (2005) CoRWM’s radioactive waste and materials inventory. CoRWM document 1279. Available at: http://www.corwm.org.uk
Dooley JJ, Dahowski RT, Davidson CL (2008) On the Long-term Average Cost of CO2 Transport and storage. Joint Global Change Research Institute, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, College Park, PNNL-17389
Eccles JK, Pratson L, Newell RG, Jackson RB (2009) Physical and economic potential of geological CO2 storage in saline aquifers. Environ Sci Technol 43:1962–1969
Eide-Haugmo I, Brakstad OG, Hoff KA, Sørheim KR, da Silva EF, Svendsen HF (2009) Environ-mental impact of amines. In: Gale J, Herzog H, Braitsch J (eds) Proceedings of the 9th Inter- national Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Energy Procedia. 1:1297–1304
Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy (2001) The decision in principle by the Government on 21 December 2000 concerning Posiva Oy’s application for the construction of a final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel produced in Finland. Unofficial translation. http://www.tem.fi/files/19726/Decision_in_principle_2000.pdf
Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy (2002) A Government decision-in-principle issued on 17 January 2002 on Posiva Oy’s application for the construction of a disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel generated in Finland regarding the unresolved part of the application, postponed by the Government to be considered in conjunction with the processing of Teollisuuden Voima Oy’s application for a decision-in-principle on the construction of a new nuclear power plant unit, submitted to the Government on 15 November 2000. http://www.tem.fi/files/19727/Decision_in_principle_2002.pdf
Gómez DR, Tyacke M (2011) Transport of carbon dioxide and radioactive waste. In this volume
Groenenberg H, de Coninck H (2007) Technical support for an enabling policy framework for carbon dioxide capture and geological storage. Task 3: incentivising CO2 capture and storage in the European Union. Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN). http://www.ecn.nl/docs/library/report/2007/o07007.pdf
Hamilton MR, Herzog HJ, Parsons JE (2008) Cost and U.S. public policy for new coal power plants with carbon capture and sequestration. In: Gale J, Herzog H, Braitsch J (eds) Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Energy Procedia 1:4487–4494
Hendriks C, Hagedoorn S, Warmenhoven H (2007) Transportation of Carbon Dioxide and Organisational Issues of CCS in the Netherlands. Ecofys, Utrecht
Herzog H, Smekens K, Dadhich P, Dooley J, Fujii Y, Hohmeyer O, Riahi K (2005) Cost and economic potential. In: Metz B, Davidson O, de Coninck HC, Loos M, Meyer L (eds) IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York, pp 339–362
Hildebrand AN (2009) Strategies for demonstration and early deployment of carbon capture and storage: a technical and economic assessment of capture percentage. Masters thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Ho MT, Allinson GW, Wiley DE (2009) Factors affecting the cost of capture for Australian lignite coal fired power plants. In: Gale J, Herzog H, Braitsch J (eds) Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Energy Procedia. 1:763–770
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (1994) Assessment and Comparison of Waste Management System Costs for Nuclear and Other Energy Sources, vol 366, Technical Reports. IAEA, Vienna
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2006) Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, vol 1, IAEA International Law. IAEA, Vienna
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2009) Classification of Radioactive Waste, vol GSG-1, IAEA Safety Standards. IAEA, Vienna
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2009b) Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive waste Management: Summary Report. Third review meeting of the contracting parties, Vienna, 11–20 May. JC/RM3/02.Rev2.http://www-ns.iaea.org/downloads/rw/conventions/third-review-meeting/final-report-english.pdf
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2010a) Power reactor information system. PRIS. http://www.iaea.org/programmes/a2/
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2010b) Joint convention website. Joint convention on the safety of spent fuel management and on the safety of radioactive waste management. http://www-ns.iaea.org/conventions/waste-jointconvention.htm
IEA (International Energy Agency) (2008) CO2 Capture and Storage: A Key Carbon Abatement Option. OECD/IEA, Paris
IEA and NEA (International Energy Agency and Nuclear Energy Agency) (2005) Projected costs of Generating Electricity: 2005 Update. OECD Publishing. http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2005/ElecCost.PDF
IEA and NEA (International Energy Agency and Nuclear Energy Agency) (2010) Projected Costs of Generating Electricity 2010 edition. OECD Publishing, Paris
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2005) IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage. Metz B, Davidson O, de Coninck HC, Loos M, Meyer LA (eds). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York
Korkmaz Ö, Oeljeklaus G, Görner K (2009) Analysis of retrofitting coal-fired power plants with carbon dioxide capture. In: Gale J, Herzog H, Braitsch J (eds) Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Energy Procedia. 1:1289–1295
Kukkola T, Saanio T (2005) Cost estimate of Olkiluoto Disposal Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel. Working report 2005–10. Posiva Oy, Olkiluoto
Maul P (2011) Risk assessment, risk management and remediation for the geological disposal of radioactive waste and storage of carbon dioxide. In this volume
McCoy ST, Rubin ES (2005) Models of CO2 transport and storage costs and their importance in CCS cost estimates. In: Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference on Carbon Capture & Sequestration. National Energy Technology Laboratory, US Department of Energy. http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings/05/carbon-seq/Tech%20Session%20Paper%2092.pdf
McKinsey & Company (2008) Carbon capture & storage: assessing the economics. http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/sustainability/pdf/CCS_Assessing_the_Economics.pdf
METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) (2008a) Revision of costs for the final disposal of specified radioactive waste and of contributions to the final disposal reserve fund. Press release, 5 Dec [in Japanese]. http://search.e-gov.go.jp/servlet/PcmFileDownload?seqNo = 0000046113
METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) (2008b) Revision of the basic policy on specified radioactive waste final disposal and the specified radioactive waste final disposal plan. Press release, 14 Mar. http://www.meti.go.jp/english/newtopics/data/nBackIssue20080314_01.html
METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) (2008c) Methodology for estimating the amount of specified radioactive waste from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels resulting from the operation of nuclear power plants [in Japanese]. http://www.meti.go.jp/committee/materials/downloadfiles/g71218a05j.pdf
Narita D (2009) Economic optimality of CCS use: a resource-economic model. Kiel working paper No. 1508. Kiel Institute for the World Economy. http://www.ifw-members.ifw-kiel.de/publications/economic-optimality-of-ccs-use-a-resource-economic-model/KWP%201508.pdf
NEA (Nuclear Energy Agency) (2003) Topical Session on “Liabilities Identification and Long-term Management at National Level”: Topical Session Held During the 36th Meeting of the RWMC. Proceedings. NEA/RWM(2003)/14. OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. http://www.nea.fr/rwm/docs/2003/rwm2003-14.pdf
NETL (National Energy Technology Laboratory) (2007) Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Plants, vol 1, Bituminous Coal and Natural Gas to Electricity—Final Report. DOE/NETL-2007/1281, NETL.http://www.netl.doe.gov/energy-analyses/pubs/Bituminous%20Baseline_Final%20Report.pdf
Nirex (2005) Cost estimate for a reference repository concept for UK high-level waste/spent fuel. Technical Note. Nirex Document No. 484281. United Kingdom Nirex. http://www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/Cost-estimate-for-a-reference-repository-concept-for-a-UK-high-level-waste-spent-nuclear-fuel-A-Technical-Note-2005.pdf
Nirex (2006) Technical note on cost profiles for CoRWM option 7 (deep geological disposal) and option 9 (phased deep geological disposal). Nirex Document No. 506103. United Kingdom Nirex. http://www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/Technical-note-on-cost-profiles-for-CoRWM-Option-7-9depp-geolgical-disposal-and-Option-9-phased-deep-geological-disposal-June-2006.pdf
NUMO (Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan) (2004) Technology and Safety of Geological Disposal of High-level Radioactive Wastes. NUMO, Tokyo [in Japanese], NUMO-TR-04-01
OCRWM (Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management) (2008a) Analysis of the total system life cycle cost of the civilian radioactive waste management program, fiscal year 2007. DOE/RW-0591. US Department of Energy. http://www.energy.gov/media/Total-Life-Cycle.pdf
OCRWM (Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management) (2008b) The report to the president and the congress by the secretary of energy on the need for a second repository. DOE/RW-0595. US Department of Energy. http://www.energy.gov/media/Second_Repository_Rpt_120908.pdf
OCRWM (Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management) (2008c) Fiscal Year 2007: Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Fee Adequacy Assessment Report. DOE/RW-0593. US Department of Energy. http://www.energy.gov/media/2008_Fee_Adequacy.pdf
ONDRAF/NIRAS (L’organisme national des déchets radioactifs et des matières fissiles enrichies—Belgian Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials) (2001a) SAFIR 2 Report: Safety Assessment and Feasibility Interim Report 2. Report NIROND 2001-06 E. ONDRAF/NIRAS. Available at: http://www.nirond.be/engels/Safir2_eng.php
ONDRAF/NIRAS (L’organisme national des déchets radioactifs et des matières fissiles enrichies—Belgian Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials) (2001b) Technical overview of the SAFIR 2 Report: Safety Assessment and Feasibility Interim Report 2. NIROND 2001-05 E. http://www.nirond.be/engels/PDF/Safir2_apercutech_eng.pdf
ONDRAF/NIRAS (L’organisme national des déchets radioactifs et des matières fissiles enrichies—Belgian Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials) (2009) Long-term management of category C waste. http://www.nirond.be/engels/7.5.3_CategoryC_eng.html
Ploumen PJ, Koetzier H, Turpin F, Smeets RD (2007) Investigations to CO2 Storage: Strategy for CO2 Capture. 30620089-Consulting 06-1064. KEMA Consulting, Arnhem
Posiva (2008a) Overall Description of An Extension to the Final Disposal Facility of Spent Nuclear Fuel to Accommodate for the Fuel From Olkiluoto 4 Plant Unit. Posiva Oy. http://www.posiva.fi/files/514/Posiva_YLPS_en.pdf
Posiva (2008b) Horizontal Deposition of Canisters for Spent Nuclear Fuel: Summary of the KBS-3 H Project 2004–2007. Report POSIVA 2008-03. Posiva Oy. http://www.posiva.fi/files/932/Posiva_2008-03web.pdf
Pöyry Energy Consulting (2007) Analysis of Carbon Capture and Storage Cost-supply Curves for the UK. Pöyry Energy Consulting, Oxford
Renzenbrink W, Ewers J, Keller D, Wolf KJ, Apel W (2009) RWE’s 450 MW IGCC/CCS project – Status and outlook. In: Gale J, Herzog H, Braitsch J (eds) Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Energy Procedia. 1:615–622
Rogner HH, Sharma D, Jalal AI (2008) Nuclear power versus fossil-fuel power with CO2 capture and storage: a comparative analysis. Int J Energy Sect Manage 2(2):181–196
Štefula V (2004) Inventory of radioactive wastes. Deliverable D-1. SAPIERR—Support Action: Pilot Initiative for European Regional Repositories. European Commission, Brussels
Štefula V (2006) Final Report. Deliverable D-7. SAPIERR—Support Action: pilot initiative for European Regional Repositories. European Commission. http://www.arius-world.org/pages/pdf_2006_7/Report-SAPIERR%201-%20Final%20Report%20D7.pdf
Shropshire DE, Williams KA, Boore WB, Smith JD, Dixon BW, Dunzik-Gougar M, Adams RD, Gombert D (2007) Advanced Fuel Cycle Cost Basis, INL/EXT-07-12107. Idaho National Laboratory. http://www.inl.gov/technicalpublications/Documents/3667084.pdf
SKB (Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB—Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company) (2003) Plan 2003: Costs for Management of the Radioactive Waste Products From Nuclear Power Production. SKB Technical Report TR-03-11. Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB.http://www.skb.se/upload/publications/pdf/TR-03-11webb.pdf
SKB (Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB—Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company) (2010) A repository for nuclear fuel in 1.9 billion year old bedrock. Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB. http://www.skb.se/Templates/Standard____28848.aspx
Strömberg L, Lindgren G, Jacoby J, Giering R, Anheden M, Burchhardt U, Altmann H, Kluger F, Stamatelopoulos G-N (2009) Update on Vattenfall’s 30 MWth oxyfuel pilot plant in Schwarze Pumpe. In: Gale J, Herzog H, Braitsch J (eds) Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Energie Procedia 1:581–589
Tavoni M, van der Zwaan B (2009) Nuclear Versus Coal Plus CCS: A Comparison of Two Competitive Base-load Climate Control Options. Nota di lavoro 100.2009. FEEM working paper series, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei. http://www.feem.it/userfiles/attach/200911191231464100-09.pdf
Tshibangu KJ-P, Descamps F (2011) Engineering challenges in the geological disposal of radioactive waste and carbon dioxide. In this volume
US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) (2008) Geologic CO2 sequestration technology and cost analysis. Technical Support Document. US EPA.http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/uic/pdfs/support_uic_co2_technologyandcostanalysis.pdf
van der Zwaan B, Gerlagh R (2008) The Economics of Geological CO2 Storage and Leakage. Nota di lavoro 10.2008. FEEM working paper series, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei. http://www.feem.it/userfiles/attach/Publication/NDL2008/NDL2008-010.pdf
Vangkilde-Pedersen T, Anthonsen KL, Smith N, Kirk K, Neele F, van der Meer B, Le Gallo Y, Bossie-Codreanu D, Wojcicki A, Le Nindre Y-M, Hendriks C, Dalhoff F, Christensen NP (2009) Assessing European capacity for geological storage of carbon dioxide—the EU GeoCapacity project. In: Gale J, Herzog H, Braitsch J (eds) Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Energy Procedia. 1:2663–2670
Vosbeek M, Warmenhoven H (2007) Making Large-scale Carbon Capture and Storage CCS in the Netherlands Work: An Agenda for 2007–2020 Policy, Technology and Organization. Ecofys, Utrecht
West JM, Shaw RP, Pearce JM (2011) Environmental issues in the geological disposal of carbon dioxide and radioactive waste. In this volume
WNN (World Nuclear News) (2009) Obama dumps Yucca Mountain. 27 Feb. Available at: http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Sarah Sollors and Romain Boniface for their assistance in the literature research and Kazumasa Hioki, Andriy Korinny, Paul Degnan and two anonymous referees for their valuable comments and suggestions for improvements. Any remaining deficiencies are the sole responsibility of the authors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Toth, F.L., Miketa, A. (2011). The Costs of the Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste. In: Toth, F. (eds) Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste: A Comparative Assessment. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 44. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8712-6_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8712-6_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8711-9
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-8712-6
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)