The deep geological repository (DGR) is considered as the definitive management solution for high-level waste (HLW). Countries defined different DGR implementation schedules, depending on their national context and political choices. | Economic appraisal of deployment schedules for high-level radioactive waste repositories EPJ Nuclear Sci. Technol. 3 12 2017 Nuclear Sciences . Doan et al. published by EDP Sciences 2017 amp Technologies DOI epjn 2017007 Available online at http REGULAR ARTICLE Economic appraisal of deployment schedules for high-level radioactive waste repositories Phuong Hoai Linh Doana Thierry Duquesnoy and Jean-Guy Devezeaux de Lavergne French Atomic and Alternative Energy Commission CEA DAS Paris Saclay University 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette France Received 7 April 2016 Received in final form 30 June 2016 Accepted 16 March 2017 Abstract. The deep geological repository DGR is considered as the definitive management solution for high- level waste HLW . Countries defined different DGR implementation schedules depending on their national context and political choices. We raise the question of the economic grounds of such political decisions by providing an economic analysis of different DGR schedules. We investigate the optimal timing for DGR commissioning based on available Nuclear Energy Agency NEA data 2013 . Two scenarios are considered 1 rescheduling the deployment of a DGR with the same initial operational period and 2 rescheduling the deployment of a DGR with a shorter operational period . initial closure date. Given the long timescales of such projects we also take into account the discounting effect. The first finding is that it appears more economically favorable to extend the interim storage than to dispose of the HLW immediately. Countries which chose immediate disposal are willing to accept higher costs to quickly solve the problem. Another interesting result is that there is an optimal solution with respect to the length of DGR operational period and the waste flow for disposal. Based on data provided by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD Nuclear Energy Agency NEA we find an optimal operating period of about 15 years with
