A new Hungarian project would make the management of radioactive waste more efficient
The objective of the development is to create a modern system of instruments and procedures that provides a cost-effective, fast, and reliable solution for the classification of radioactive waste packages, thereby revolutionizing the methods required for the so-called clearance procedure used in radioactive waste management.
As nuclear power generation and modern healthcare produce increasing amounts of radioactive waste, its proper storage and handling pose significant environmental and economic challenges worldwide. The joint program of GAMMA Zrt and ELTE TTK, supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH), seeks to address this issue. The consortium participants are working on the development of mobile, container-based measurement systems, which, when supplemented with additional components, will allow the examination of large quantities of radioactive waste. The new measurement system will not only be faster and more efficient than current technologies but will also enable waste classification at an earlier stage of the storage process. This optimization helps better utilize storage capacities and reduce storage costs. Through this innovation, project participants will revolutionize the clearance procedure, a process that enables materials with safe radiation levels to be handled through alternative waste management processes or even recycled.
The service developed under the leadership of GAMMA Zrt will provide a more competitive alternative to current methods due to its new functions and technological solutions. This approach will not only offer economic advantages in Hungary but also in any country where radioactive waste is generated.
The physicists and chemists of the Faculty of Science at Eötvös Loránd University are contributing to the project in multiple fields, primarily through supporting simulations, experimental research, and measurements. The university's participation is coordinated by leading researchers: Ákos Horváth and Gábor Veres from the Department of Atomic Physics, Zoltán Homonnay from the Department of Analytical Chemistry. This project is a great example of an interdisciplinary, cross-departmental research initiative that leads to industrially applicable results.
Beyond revolutionizing radioactive waste classification, the development offers several additional opportunities. The detectors and measurement methods developed in the project can also be applied in other measurement systems, contributing to the advancement of industrial measurement technology.
Project Details:
- Project ID: 2024-1.1.1-KKV_FÓKUSZ-2024-00076
- Project Title: "Development of a Service for the Classification of Radioactive Waste Using Mobile Container-Based Measurement Stations and Detector Networks"
- Planned Start Date: February 1, 2025
- Planned Completion Date: January 31, 2027
- Contracted Grant Amount: 799,807,960 HUF
Consortium:
- GAMMA Technical Zrt. – Consortium Leader
- Eötvös Loránd University – Consortium Member
(Banner Image: Bátaapáti, Photo: MTI / Tamás Sóki )