The two companies have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly drive forward the development of SMR in Estonia supported by a safe and scalable solution for the resulting spent fuel.

Under the MoU, Fermi Energia and Deep Isolation will mutually collaborate and exchange critical information for the use of Deep Isolation's Universal Canister System (UCS) and patented directional drilling solution for deep borehole disposal for isolation and management of spent fuel.

Kalev Kallemets, CEO of Fermi Energia, said: "Fermi Energia's reference solution for spent fuel disposal, subject to licensing approval by relevant regulators, is provided by Deep Isolation. The solution includes packaging our SMR spent fuel in the Universal Canister System and then emplacing it in a deep borehole repository.

Alternative options

"Alternative options, such as the mined facilities being implemented in Finland and Sweden, are likely to be too expensive to be viable for Estonia's small volume of SMR fuel and Estonia's sedimentary rock geology in the upper layers where such a facility can be constructed.

We are delighted to have been selected by Fermi Energia

"Before we can invest in new nuclear power as part of Estonia's net-zero strategy, the country is required by the EU to establish a detailed, documented plan to have in operation by 2050 a disposal facility for the resulting spent fuel. We do not see any other disposal technology able to meet the required speed of deployment for Estonia."

Advanced nuclear power generation

Chris Parker, managing director of Deep Isolation's European business, said: "As Estonia moves towards implementing advanced nuclear power generation to deliver a low-carbon future for the country, it is vital that citizens, policymakers and regulators are confident there is a safe and affordable way to dispose of the resulting spent nuclear fuel. That is why we are delighted to have been selected by Fermi Energia."

Kallemets added: "I also see an important geopolitical strategic imperative. Fermi Energia has selected a US SMR - GE Hitachi's BWRX-300 - as our technology for delivering small, modular power production. I see great benefit in also working with a US company to deliver small, modular disposal of the resulting spent fuel. As Estonia embarks on its nuclear journey, we are conscious that we are entering a 100-year plus relationship with the countries that provide us with technology support - and I welcome the chance to do this in partnership and shared values with the United States."

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