// Repository Design

GENESIS

Investigations into the safety engineering design of a generic repository in claystone in Germany

The project deals with the potential disposal of radioactive waste in clay formations. In collaboration with the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), four possible reference model areas (two in northern Germany and two in southern Germany) in claystone were developed based on both the AkEnd guidelines and additional evaluation criteria derived from the geological situation, particularly lithology and mineralogy. Within this project, two different disposal concepts – borehole disposal and drift disposal – were considered. For both concepts, thermal design calculations were conducted to determine necessary interim storage times, container spacings, and borehole or drift spacings. Based on the determined values, a minimum area requirement was estimated, providing an indication of the size of the necessary "homogeneous zone" within a clay formation in Germany. Furthermore, comparative stability analyses of the drifts of both concepts were performed. This included, for example, comparing the loosening zone, pressure stress, or bending moment distribution in an assumed development of the selected model areas.