Nova R&D – Access to the largest geosphere laboratory

in the world –Äspö HRLMarcus Laaksoharju and Anna Rockström

http://www.novafou.se/

Final disposal research General research/technical development

Universities and companies

Nova R&D

Universities and companies

Nova R&D research platform

Nova R&D gives research access to the following facilities in Oskarshamn:

• Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (SKB)• Bentonite Laboratory (SKB)• Canister Laboratory (SKB)• Site Investigation Oskarshamn (SKB)• The harbour remediation project in Oskarshamn (Municipality of Oskarshamn)

The function of Nova R&D• Gives access to the infrastructure• Financial support for project start up • Scientific and practical guidance to facilities, data,

local networks, review and support functions• Administrative project support and project follow up,• Spin-off handling from research• Steering group representing industry, academia and

politics

Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory• World unique underground laboratory built for

geological repository research• Open for general environmental research• Over 440 milj. data rows in geology, hydrology,

hydrogeochemistry, ecology etc. • Integrated models, scientific publications, technical reports

Extension of the Äspö HRL

New research laboratory and tunnel niches

Harbour Remediation project in Oskarshamn

Harbour Remediation project in Oskarshamn

• Largest environmental project in Sweden, 500 milj Kr• Approval to start the 3 year remediation work• Detailed and documented pre-investigation phase performed• About 1000 ton cupper, zinc, lead, arsenic, cobalt, nickel, cadmium and possibly dioxins in the contaminated 800 000 m3 sediments• Nova leads the scientific expert group of the project

On going Nova R&D research and education, general:

• 100 researchers from 9 domestic and international universities, 5 companies, 2 public organisations, 12 scientific publications produced so far during 4 years of operation

• 28 projects ongoing, ranging from fundamental natural science research projects to technical development projects (value more than 50 milj Kr).

• Masters, PhD and post.doc programs in cooperation with the universities• International masters program in geological storage in cooperation with

KTH, Lnu and the EU program PETRUS

Storage in Precambrian Bedrock

32 students from 13 nations and 8 universitet

Projects

Exempels of ongoing Nova FoU projects (www.novafou.se):- LNU: Groundwater composition, transport of hazardous substances, climate

changes, contaminated sediments, microbes in deep groundwater. PhD, post doc and masters education programmes.

- SU: Water management – KLIV- KTH: Interaction between land and sea. PhD program.- Chalmers: Groundwater changes around tunnel construction. PhD program. - SLU: Use of excess heat from industry for food production.- Swedish Museum of Natural History: Microbes as fossils in crystals?- Göttinge Univ.: Effects from microbes in groundwater. PhD, post doc

programmes. - Univ. of Queensland: Interpretation of hydrogeological data from boreholes. PhD

program.- Companies: Technical development tracing people and machines underground,

corrosion of rock bolts, measuring boreholes for rock bolts.

What can the infrastructure in Oskarshamn be used for?

• Research• Demonstration• Business development• Education

Future role of Nova R&D in NGL

• Receiving organisation for NGL projects• Receiving organisation for non NGL projects• Support and guidance organisation• Access to local and regional networks• Spin-off handling from research