Site Selection for a Deep Geological Repository in Switzerland: The Role of Performance Assessment Modeling

In the development of deep geological repositories (DGRs), performance assessment modeling is used to evaluate the integrity and performance of the engineered and geological barriers for thousands or millions of years of evolution of the disposal system. To evaluate the suitability of a site for a DGR, geoscientific data from dedicated site investigation programs are integrated into site-specific assessments. This paper presents the development and implementation of a modeling workflow aimed at comparing three potential siting areas for a DGR in Switzerland from the viewpoint of long-term safety and technical feasibility. The workflow follows the guidelines of the national regulator addressing safety relevant criteria such as the barrier efficiency of the host rock and its mechanical and chemical integrity in response to repository-induced influences and the long-term stability of the repository site over geological scales. In the regulatory requirements, the role of parametric, conceptual, and scenario uncertainty has been identified as an issue of special importance in the site selection process. The assessment approach comprises a portfolio of numerical models for the simulation of solute, gas and heat transport in the repository nearfield. The modeling was performed with deterministic as well as probabilistic variants integrated in an indicator-based approach that allows the consistent comparison of the candidate sites using quantitative dimensionless performance indices. The model-based assessment of the sites allows a traceable, transparent, and verifiable implementation of the site selection process.