Nova R&D – Access to the largest geosphere laboratory in the world –Äspö HRL

1. Nova R&D – Access to the largest geosphere laboratory in the world –Äspö HRL Marcus Laaksoharju and Anna Rockström http://www.novafou.se/

2. Nova R&D research platform Nova R&D General research/technical development Final disposal research Universities and companies Universities and companies

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. Extension of the Äspö HRL New research laboratory and tunnel niches

7. Harbour Remediation project in Oskarshamn

8. 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

9. 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, Lnuand the EU program PETRUS

10. Storage in Precambrian Bedrock 32 students from 13 nations and 8 universitet

11. Projects

13. 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.

15. What can the infrastructure in Oskarshamn be used for? • Research • Demonstration • Business development • Education

16. 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