SKB also submits a programme once every three years to the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. The Programme is called the RD&D Programme (in Swedish: Fud-program), which is an abbreviation of Research, Development and Demonstration. The RD&D programme contains plans for SKB’s research and development operations.
Natural science research
The goal of SKB’s natural science research is to understand the changes that take place in the long-term in a final repository for spent nuclear fuel and how these changes affect the ability of the repository to insulate and contain spent nuclear fuel. Research will also supply the data needed to construct the barriers of the final repository, as functionally, efficiently and resourcefully as possible.
A number of experiments are being conducted under realistic conditions in our underground laboratory, Äspö Hard Rock laboratory. Research is also being carried out in the Canister Laboratory and the Bentonite Laboratory, as well as at universities and colleges in Sweden and abroad.
Technology development
The laboratories are also being used to develop the technology for final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Established as well as newly developed technology will be used, though it is primarily established technologies that will be used in the construction of the final repository. The task is to make use of existing know-how on drilling into bedrock and constructing large facilities below ground level.
At the same time it is necessary to develop new technical systems, for example, for all the machinery that will be used in the nuclear fuel repository. Work is ongoing in our facilities to produce, test and further develop these systems.
Social science research
The decision regarding the location of the final repository will have a significant effect on the life of the region. For this reason, SKB has been conducting social science research to obtain a deeper understanding of the social impact on the region affected by the final repository.