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The early phases I to V at the GTS are covered in detail in the GTS Information » History of the GTS section.

PHASE VI

Grimsel Phase VI fomally began on 1st January 2003 and represents a major step forward in the research carried out at the GTS. The focus of the new research will be examining waste disposal concepts on more repository-relevant timescales and conditions.

Three Phase V projects, FEBEX, HPF and GMT have been officially extended into 2005. This allows a greater volume of high quality data to be collected from these projects where long term monitoring is a fundemental part of the investigation.

Projects include:

• Development and optimisation of the technology, transporting, emplacing, quality-assuring, monitoring and, if required, retrieving of radioactive waste.
  
  
• Extending past studies of processes in the geosphere (mainly associated with radionuclide mobility) to more closely represent the physical scales (at least 10s of metres) and boundary conditions (e.g. low water velocities) relevant to repository environments. This requires multi-decade duration tests, more than an order of magnitude longer than has been the case in any rock laboratory anywhere in the world to date.
  
  
• Monitoring and extending the knowledge and experience available from the present generation of radioactive waste experts by training the next generation who will actually build repositories.
  

Current active projects:

• Pore Space Geometry (PSG)
• Colloid Formation and Migration (CFM)
  
• Long Term Diffusion (LTD)
• Long term Cement Studies (LCS)
  

In Planning:

• Tele Handling in-situ (T-H)
• Material Testing Facility (MTF

PHASE V

Grimsel Phase V extended from 1997 to 2004. The focus is on investigating geological barrier effectiveness, demonstration of disposal concepts and site characterisation investigations. All the projects were also designed to contribute to the further development of and assessment of modelling capabilities.

Although Phase V was originally scheduled to finish in 2003, a decision to extend both the GMT, HPF and FEBEX projects was made to allow longer monitoring phases of these Engineered Barrier Experiments.

Phase V saw the construction of a new cavern at the GTS and experience gained in the use of radionuclide tracers was built on during the investigations of the geological barrier.

GTS phase V can be grouped into three main areas of interest.

• The Engineered Barrier System: FEBEX, GMT and FOM
• Processes in the Geological Barrier: HPF, CRR and GAM
• Site Characterisation and Modelling: EFP and CTN projects
  

International Co-operation at the GTS

The experienced teams who lead these programmes have, over the years, built up an extensive know-how which has come to be recognised internationally. 19 partner organisations from France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the Czech Republic and the USA, as well as numerous universities, institutes and companies from Switzerland and abroad, are involved in the activities at the GTS. Additionally, the European Union and the Swiss Federal Office of Education and Science provide financial support to some projects.