AUTUMN / 2022 THE MAGAZINE FOR THE UK NUCLEAR INDUSTRY In withConversationJuliaPyke Kerry theApprenticeJacksonofyear As one closes...door toSMR:Rolls-RoyceBigthingscome PAGE 18 PAGE 7 PAGE 2 PAGE 20
James Fisher Nuclear
Elsewhere in this issue is an interview with Tom Samson from Rolls-Royce SMR, who just signed an exciting agreement with a Dutch development company to work together to deploy their SMRs. You’ll also hear from the NNL’s Apprentice of the Year, Kerry Jackson and from Pactec’s President, Mike Sanchez, on a new packaging design solution for LLRW.
There are exciting times ahead for the industry, and who knows there may be another big announcement to bring you next time…
Iolo MediaJames&Communications Manager, Editor WELCOME TO Editor - Iolo James Art Editor - Dan Powney Press & Advertisement Enquiries - press@niauk.org Membership Enquiries - membership@niauk.org Contributors - Tom Greatrex • Lincoln Hill • Jake Moorman • Adrian Bull & William Bodel, Dalton Nuclear Institute • Connor Deehan, PA Consulting • Mike Sanchez, PacTec Inc • Georgie Noden, NNL • Julia Pyke, EDF • Tom Samson, Rolls-Royce SMR • with additional thanks to World Nuclear News Nuclear Industry Association is a company limited by guarantee registered in England No. 2804518 Registered Office - 5th Floor, Tower House, 10 Southampton Street, London WC2E 7HA TEL +44(0)20 7766 6640 EMAIL info@niauk.org Cover image - Courtesy of paper,Thiswww.edfenergy.com/about/nuclear/power-stationsEDFmagazineisprintedon100%post-consumerrecycledusingvegetablebasedinks. NEWS FROM THE HUB. 22 IN THIS ISSUE••• PAGE 12 Global Forum for Nuclear Innovation PAGE 25 14 PAGE 8 PAGE 4 Nuclear power – the role of government10 GAME CHANGER DECOM22 ROUND-UP An forpackaginginnovativedesignLowLevelWaste
Sizewell is of course the next big nuclear project, so we sat down with its Financing Director, Julia Pyke, to learn more about what the next steps are for the project.
It seems big new nuclear announcements are the trend these days, so just like my welcome note in the previous issue, this edition is no different, with a £700m pledge from the government for Sizewell C grabbing the headlines as we step into Autumn.
But as excitement builds for that station, we must bid farewell to a nuclear stalwart in Hinkley Point B. No station has contributed so much to the UK’s energy needs and the NIA’s Tom Geatrex paid tribute to the South West plant which recently moved into the defueling phase.
There is somewhat of a political feel to this issue, with a great assessment from Adrian Bull and William Bodel from the Dalton Nuclear Institute on the role of government in getting new nuclear projects off the ground.
2 — AUTUMN | 2022 ▲ Hinkley Point B turbines TA8 ▲ Hinkley Point B reactor 4 ▲ Hinkley Point B main control room ▲ Hinkley Point B first reactor TOM GREATREX • CHIEF EXECUTIVE • NIA
As dooronecloses…
No other power station has made a bigger contribution to fighting climate change. And that’s down to our world-class engineers who kept the plant running for much longer than originally anticipated. If Hinkley Point B, a station designed and built in the 60s and 70s can operate successfully for an extra 21 years, then just imagine what newer, more modern plants could do.
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For more than a decade, experts and industry figures have been warning that a failure to replace our retiring nuclear fleet—which will be all but gone by 2028 remember—would result in increased supply volatility, higher prices and more carbon emissions.
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The government, along with every credible energy expert, knows that these decisions need to be made to cut the UK’s reliance on expensive and dirty gas.”
generations will reap the benefits of decisions we makeThat’stoday.why the decision recently by the government to commit £700m to the project was received with such fanfare. When the details of that investment materialise it will mark the most important milestone for the industry since the Final Investment Decision for Hinkley Point C was approved back in 2016. There’s still work to do before Sizewell reaches that point, the details of which are outlined by the project’s Director of Finance, Julia Pyke, later in this issue, but all the signs are positive.
When we talk about Sizewell C for instance, the planned PWR in the East of England, is an 80-to100-year project, which will, in all likelihood, be generating a high volume of clean energy into the 2120s and beyond. There aren’t many green energy projects that can make that claim. Future
So, as one door closes in the South-West, another could be opening on the East coast. Let’s just hope that current events will help decision makers in the corridors of Whitehall learn from recent complacency and a chronic inability to discern between wishful thinking and stark reality.
The situation now is increasingly urgent, getting new large and small modular reactors built alongside renewables is the only way to cut costs for consumers, cut gas use, hit net zero and strengthen energy security. Had decisions been made sooner on projects like Hinkley Point C—which would have saved consumers £3bn had it been online this winter —there would be plants ready to go to replace the Hinkley Bs of this world and the industry wouldn’t have to be playing catch up.
A
When it was finally switched off at 10am on 1 August, it ended its life having produced enough low-carbon electricity to power every home in the South-West for 33 years. That’s equivalent to boiling 100 billion kettles, or powering 100 million homes for a year, or the whole country for three and a half years. The station also saved a recordbreaking 107 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. That carbon is worth £8.6 billion at today’s carbon price, a colossal environmental saving, especially when compared to a construction cost of £1.86 billion.
It is with no sense of pleasure that we see a predictable, and predicted, scenario become reality in a way which is having a significant impact on a deteriorating economic situation. What is frustrating is that, with timely decision making and foresight, it did not have to be this way.
gainst a backdrop of a looming winter energy crisis, the likes of which many in this country will not have experienced before, losing our most productive clean energy asset is, to say the least, not ideal. But as Hinkley Point B was switched off on a warm summer’s day in August, with many of its former workers looking on with a mix of pride and sadness, it served as a timely reminder of just how vital the station, as an integral part of our record-breaking green nuclear fleet, has been to keeping the lights on in this hour of Hinkleyneed.Bstarted its life back in 1967 when construction began under the command of The Nuclear Power Group consortium. When it was connected to the National Grid less than a decade later on February 5, 1976, it was the first commercial AGR plant to generate power. Having been originally slated to run for 25 years, very few who witnessed the switch on that cold winter’s morning, would have predicted it would still be powering the South-West almost five decades later.
The government, along with every credible energy expert, knows that these decisions need to be made to cut the UK’s reliance on expensive and dirty gas. As I write this, day-ahead prices for power have reached record levels, as countries around Europe try to deal with a situation that is fast spiralling out of control and policymakers scramble to bolster power supplies and strengthen energy security.
● The contracts for difference model (used to finance HPC). This was followed by an eventual U-turn on Chinese participation beyond HPC and then adoption of the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) financing model.
● A high-profile competition launched in 2016 by the Department of Energy and Climate Change for the best future small modular reactor (SMR) designs, as part of a £250m investment in an ambitious nuclear research and development programme. This was subsequently downgraded to a consultation, then in February 2022 reissued as an Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) research, development and demonstration competition.
● Nuclear programmes must move fast enough to meet the 2050 net zero deadline, and government processes must keep up. This will be particularly crucial to enable an ‘early 2030s’ date for the operation of a demonstration High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) to be met.
2006, Prime Minister Tony Blair assured Britain that nuclear was “back on the agenda with a vengeance”. Boris Johnson has described his commitment to deliver nuclear at “warp speed”, and the three intervening Prime Ministers have also emphasised their support for nuclear. Yet Britain’s first new nuclear plant—Hinkley Point C (HPC)—is still some years from operation and, despite recent progress at Sizewell C, there is no confirmed successor project.
ADRIAN BULL & WILLIAM BODEL • DALTON NUCLEAR INSTITUTE - THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
Other factors include very long timescales for delivery of new plants—meaning longer before investors see returns on their money; planning delays; and public opposition if not well handled. Positions on nuclear and its priority for government oscillate, both with changes in leadership and with the other demands facing Whitehall. Brexit, COVID and the current war in Ukraine have, understandably, soaked up precious resources over recent years. All leading to a shaky perception among investors and developers of political commitment and the associated risk.
Nuclear power – the role of government
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But cost is an issue—conventional reactors like Hinkley Point (HPC) are so expensive that even state-backed EDF didn’t have deep enough pockets to invest without bringing in Chinese partners to take a 1/3 stake. The countries who delivered extensive and rapid rollout of nuclear have all had energy markets which were state-run, and regard the supply of safe, secure electricity as a strategic imperative rather than leaving it to a fickle and uncertainGovernment’smarket.desire to let markets deliver—but then intervene or backtrack—reduces confidence for investors and the supply chain. Some wellintentioned interventions include:
● Government should make clear long-term decisions, that are consistent, to provide certainty to the market.
Free and open competition works well—but takes time and can’t really solve the intertwined crises we currently face of medium-term energy security and longer-term climate preservation. Sometimes a “command and control” approach, putting speed ahead of perfect outcomes, is needed—such as government’s response to the pandemic.
Perhaps the greatest challenge though is that different aspects of government’s complex role in nuclear sit across Whitehall and are addressed separately. Delivery of new GW-scale nuclear falls under BEIS, whilst longer term innovation on new reactors such as SMRs and AMRs and links with heat and hydrogen supply are elsewhere in BEIS. Then developing the supply chain and value to UK businesses are in yet another area of BEIS. Regulation comes under Work and Pensions. Siting— many prospective sites owned by government-owned NDA. Financing government support is Treasury, while
In this article, Adrian Bull and Will Bodel examine the gap between intention and reality and highlight policy recommendations from a new paper by the Dalton Nuclear Policy Group.
● Government should be clear on what it expects for future reactors, particularly concerning size and output.
Government needs to lead if nuclear is to play its part in hitting Net Zero.
● Financial support to encourage series reactor build—encouraging potential first movers, and incentivising subsequent investors to maximise the speed and effectiveness of delivery.
This article was originally featured in Policy@Manchester
He explained to listeners the need to get on with building stations now, why we need to build in fleets and why investing now means a boost to future energy security. The interview is also featured in Bloomberg’s very popular Bloomberg Westminster podcast.
In an interview with The Times on the failures in UK Energy Policy over the last decade, Tom explained that “for more than a decade, experts have been warning that a failure to replace our retiring nuclear fleet would result in increased supply volatility and higher prices.
IOLO JAMES • MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER • NIA
In September the NIA’s Chairman Dr Stone penned an essay for The Daily Telegraph which focused on how nuclear was an early British success story that should be revived after decades of neglect. The essay, as part of a special series on the UK’s energy crisis, detailed how the UK abandoned new nuclear, and when North Sea production faded, we became dependent on international markets over which we had no control. In short, we stopped owning our energy security and started renting it.
crisis still dominating the news agenda, the interest in nuclear has continued on an upward trajectory… much like the price of gas. In August, the NIA’s Tom Greatrex appeared on Bloomberg Radio’s Day Break Europe programme to discuss nuclear’s role as a long-term answer to future energy crises.
WithCNA.theenergy
Media Watch
On the same day, Tom spoke to GB News, in an interview which also touched on the role SMRs will play in boosting homegrown energy supplies. “SMRs could offer reliable clean energy if we can get the designs approved and the construction process established in the next few years” Tom said. He added that “the quicker we start building new nuclear the sooner we will have a less volatile and more reliable energy mix.”
The situation is increasingly urgent, getting new large and small modular reactors built alongside renewables is the only way to cut costs for consumers, cut gas use, hit net zero and strengthen energy security. Had decisions been made sooner on projects like Hinkley Point C—which would have saved consumers £3bn had it been online this winter—the industry wouldn’t have to be playing catch up now.”
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the role of nuclear in levelling up is handled by Communities and Local Government. Suitability of international partners is assessed by the Foreign Office and national security implications through—for example—cyber-risk is Home Office.
Nearer-term specific measures government could usefully take include:
● Widening the scope of financial incentives, potentially on offer to communities which might host onshore wind, to include all low carbon generation—making community engagement a dialogue, not a plea to accept an unknown and largely unwanted technology.
Miss this chance, and the much-anticipated GBN simply becomes another talking shop de veloping options for endless government review. Then those investors and developers who might have invested in the UK will head abroad, and the opportunity is gone, leaving us with an energy landscape almost impossible to decarbonise.
“With the promised establishment of Great British Nuclear, government has an opportunity to catalyse the UK’s nuclear programme ”
https://pixabay.com/photos/big-ben-london-architecture-britain-1118888—PixabayfromGicAnabyImage
● Establishing GBN with a suitable remit and the power to act across Whitehall, removing blockages and applying appropriate incentives.
At the end of August, the NIA issued a media release on the record day-ahead prices of power. Nord Pool’s average dayahead auction price for power reached a record £539.59/MWh for Tuesday August 23rd, breaking the previous record of £500/ MWh set the previous day. The record was broken again on the 26th with a price of £571.09/MWh. Commenting on the prices, Tom Greatrex, said it underlined “the urgent need for new nuclear projects including Sizewell C, Rolls Royce SMR and others to be given the go ahead.”
With the promised establishment of Great British Nuclear (GBN), government has an opportunity (perhaps its last, if nuclear is to underpin its 2050 Net Zero target, as research shows it can) to catalyse the UK’s nuclear programme via a co-ordinated series of measures, accelerating delivery by picking a course and moving at pace, giving confidence to others to do likewise. This might be the only way to achieve a meaningful fleet of identical units (or multiple fleets, perhaps one for GWscale plants and others for SMRs and AMRs), and thus bring the benefits—demonstrated elsewhere—from such series build, specifically reduced cost and timescales for developers and repeat business for the supply chain.
The NIA and other global associations issued a joint statement in August calling for immediate, unconditional, and unrestricted IAEA access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine to assess the well-being of staff. The statement was issued on behalf of the NEI, ENS, nucleareurope, WNA, NIA, ANS, NI, CNS and
visits and awareness seminars on nuclear science and technology.
The new SATER facility is housed in the PRR-1 building and will remain in a subcritical state.
The fundraise was co-led by SK Inc and SK Innovation and TerraPower’s founder Bill Gates. Additional funding will come from other investors.
The Philippine Nuclear Research Insti tute (PNRI) has begun commissioning the Philippine Research Reactor-1 Subcritical Assembly for Training, Education and Research (PRR-1 SATER), which will become the country’s sole nuclear reactor training facility.
South Korea’s SK Group invests in TerraPower
For full versions and more details on these other stories visit www.world-nuclear-news.org
Slovakia’s Mochovce 3 permitted to start up
The final design includes many upgrades to safety and security, including increased aircraft impact protection and emergency manage ment measures based on lessons from the Fukushima accident which were incorporated during the project.
plant in Kentucky, which is in the early phases of deactivation. The robotic technology enables analysts to look inside process gas piping and equipment without having to cut or drill into it.
The investment by SK is part of the latest private capital fundraise, which has raised at least USD750 million of investment in TerraPower.
Robot technology is being used in preparations for future deactivation and remediation work at the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), sharing lessons learned from other decommissioning projects.
Robot crawlers used in site ‘first’ at Paducah enrichment plant
Once commissioned, PNRI will apply for a full operating licence for the reactor. It is expected to be fully operational by 2023. In the meantime, the facility will be open for technical
Generation from Mochovce 3 will cover about 13% of Slovakia’s total electricity consumption, increasing the share of nuclear energy to 65%.
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and
The 1 MW open pool general-purpose PRR-1 research reactor reached criticality in August 1963. In 1984, PNRI decided to convert and upgrade the reactor into a 3MW TRIGA Mark III reactor. It was shut down in 1988, leaving the country with no operating nuclear facility for the past 34 years.
Commissioning of Philippine research reactor under way
Engineers have tested a robot pipe crawler designed to inspect piping previously used to support uranium enrichment operations at the former
The Slovak Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ÚJD) has issued the final authorisation for commissioning of unit 3 of the Mochovce nuclear power plant. Operator Slovenské elektrárne expects soon to start loading fuel into the reactor’s core ahead of its commissioning.Construction of the first two 471 MWe VVER units at the four-unit Mochovce plant started in 1982. Work began on units 3 and 4 in 1986, but stalled in 1992. The first two reactors were completed and came into oper ation in 1998 and 1999 with a project to complete units 3 and 4 beginning ten years later.
The equity investment will enable SK to join TerraPower’s nuclear reactor commercialisation projects in Korea and Southeast Asia and supply carbonfree power, spearheading the shift to carbon neutrality.
Kerry JacksonApprentice of the Year
Yeah, the level 3 in Pharmacy is actually what qualified me for the apprenticeship as I’d left school without any A-levels, so it definitely gave me a good foundation to build on. I work as a separation science glovebox operator which allows me to spend 4 days on site and in the lab—which I love. I also study at Gen2 once a week as part of my apprenticeship. As well as technology for decommissioning, I’m also involved with research and development projects exploring spacecraft fuel with the UK and EU Space Agencies; nuclear medicine and the storage and packaging of Plutonium.
I remember being taken aback by how many big nuclear companies were there and then they started to announce the various categories and winners. I was awarded ‘Advanced Apprentice of the Year’ and was over the moon! NSAN then went on to announce the winner of the ‘UK Apprentice of the Year’ and when they read my name I couldn’t believe it, I was absolutely buzzing. I was so proud to win the award and it was even more special to win it in front of the
I started at NNL in 2019, having previously worked in a pharmacy for 6 years since leaving school. I have always been fascinated by Chemistry and decided to go into the pharmaceutical industry where I gained a Level 3 in Pharmacy, but I found that there wasn’t as much lab-based work as I’d have liked. I had an interest in nuclear and a friend recommended having a look at the NNL Apprenticeship. My initial understanding of nuclear was all about decommissioning and I wanted to contribute to the clean-up of the UK’s nuclear legacy.
That’s awesome, I’m sure you’ll have a great time at nuclear week. I think I might know the answer to part of this question: what has been the biggest highlight and the biggest challenge from your career in nuclear so far?
That’s quite an impressive list of projects, I’m starting to see why you won this award. Speaking of which, how did you find out that you’d been nominated and what was your initial reaction? Talk us through what happened at the awards ceremony.
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NNL CEO and managers and my mum. The food was also amazing, I had a great night!
JAKE MOORMAN • NUCLEARGRADUATE • NIA
Congratulations on your huge achievement Kerry. But before we talk about that, how did you hear about the NNL Apprenticeship and why did you decide to join the Nuclear Industry?
Covid was definitely a huge challenge for the whole industry, including many reading this interview, so for you to have won this award in the midst of the pandemic is really impressive. Being relatively new to the industry, has your individual perception of it evolved during your early career and if so, how?
Earlier this year Kerry Jackson of the National Nuclear laboratory (NNL) was awarded the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN) prize for the UK Nuclear Apprentice of the Year. Born and bred in the nuclear heartland of Cumbria she has high hopes for a future in the industry. NIA’s Jake Moorman caught up with Kerry to discuss her award and her career in nuclear so far.
Since joining the industry, I have realised there is so much more to nuclear than I initially thought. I love that there are so many avenues of work and different opportunities, I never knew the impact nuclear can have on society. The technology and innovation we have here in the UK is fantastic and will be so important on our path to net-zero. Nuclear presents so many clean energy solutions and I’m sure it will have a big role in future decisions.
My biggest challenge was definitely working throughout the pandemic. Covid delayed a lot of my learning and on-site training and the knockon effect of that has delayed getting some of my certificates. NNL were really supportive throughout, but I still have exams that are being pushed back which can be frustrating.
Sounds like a great night! How have things at work changed since you won the award?
That’s a really interesting route into the industry and I bet that previous experience has been helpful in your new career. Since joining NNL, what kind of work have you been involved with? Have you managed to get more lab-based work like you’d hoped?
My biggest highlight is, as you probably guessed, winning the UK apprentice of the year. Like I said earlier, this has opened up so many opportunities for me and it feels so rewarding to be recognized for all the work I have done.
It’s been amazing, I’ve had so many opportunities off the back of it. I’ve been invited to skills fairs and been introduced to lots of people I would never have met otherwise. I’ve also been invited to speak at Nuclear Week in Parliament in September which will be my first time in London and I can’t wait.
I completely agree, and informing people of the benefits nuclear can bring to society is so important. Finally, then, what advice would you give to other young people across the industry?
Be yourself! If it’s something you’re passionate about just work as hard as you can and put yourself out there. You don’t always have to come in the traditional route- I certainly didn’t. It can be daunting to be surrounded by experts but just by being yourself and working hard you’ll go a long way!
I remember being told by my early careers advisor that I had been nominated by my manager. My first reaction was shock and I thought why me? I then filled out an application form and did a series of interviews and presentations on my work from the apprenticeship. I was informed that I’d reached the final and in March I attended the awards ceremony in Manchester.
T
We were privileged to be joined by industry leaders who shared how they are shaping their part of the sector for success. From the strategic perspective we heard from Tom Greatrex and David Peattie on the direction of the NDA and government. This was followed by hearing first hand from the operating companies how they are changing, transforming and innovating. We looked beyond our industry too with updates from the IAEA, the Department for International Trade (DIT) and our international colleagues about work overseas and how they leverage change to innovate and succeed.
As an industry we have seen a significant amount of change and disruption since the conference was last held in 2018, some positive and some less so. It has been exciting to watch the formation of Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) and Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) as well as the transfer of the defueled EDF fleet to Magnox. There has also been many acquisitions and new organisations entering the market.
We ended the day with our Jubilee party which was sponsored by KBR and Frazer-Nash Consultancy. The evening was filled with enjoyment listening to our band playing ‘the Best of British‘ music whilst drinks were served alongside dishes inspired by our nation. We even got to see the Women’s England Football team beat Spain…
he universe tried its best to foil DECOM2022 through multiple lockdowns and a heat wave, but on Wednesday 20 July the event took place at the International Centre in Telford, and we were thrilled to see over 350 attendees from the UK, Canada, Japan, Spain and France, to name but a few.
Closing off we had the important reminder that everything we do in the decommissioning sector has a bearing on what happens with new build.
We have a busy last quarter with many business groups for NIA members to be involved in including Decommissioning and Existing Generation, International, Quality, Cross Industry learning and Fusion. Please do look at our website for further details.
Missed out on DECOM2022?? Fear not! We have Nuclear 2022 taking place in London on 1 December which will be followed by the Nuclear Industry Association/Nuclear Institute Annual Dinner. Another great opportunity for industry to get together.
Throughout the day we were reminded that where there is disruption and significant change there is also opportunity, and as an industry we can we take the opportunity to challenge the impossible, to capture innovation and embrace the change.
Of course, these events are not possible without the generosity of our sponsors, so a huge thank-you to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Amentum, Cavendish Nuclear, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, Atkins, Cyclife, DBD, Orano, and Urenco Nuclear Stewardship.
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2022 | AUTUMN — 9 CONNOR DEEHAN • BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION LEADER • PA CONSULTING Proudly sponsoring NIA DECOM2022 www.urenco.com Urenco: Making a valuable contribution to a low carbon economy Providing bespoke end of life-cycle management solutions to the nuclear industry Our workforce have specialist management skills and expertise within the nuclear sector in: Waste management and waste services • Waste characterisation and treatment, including radioactive metals • Storage of radiological materials Radiological• asset care • Decommissioning and land remediation Engineering• support
Introducing a change to existing methods and past practices in any industry sector can be challenging. That is especially true in the nuclear sector, where change is perhaps the most difficult.
On-site monitoring technology was developed by Nuvia in the form of a High-Resolution Assay Monitor-trailer mounted system that could provide
The NDA implemented a directive for a refined waste hierarchy strategy which provided a more robust process for segregating and categorising of all radioactive waste, including LLW. This improved management process subsequently provided better alignment with regulatory compliant packaging, transport, and disposal options, which provided the opportunity to reduce the overall disposal costs.
Defining the Problem
This also provided the drive and focus to develop and establish a new waste route to divert Very Low Level Waste (VLLW) and lower category LLW from the repository. The improvement saved valuable space for the higher levels of LLW by alleviating the demand and mitigating the risk to the NDA’s mission to accelerate the decommissioning operations across the its sites.
▲ L-R, LLWR concrete vault with grouted ISO containers; Nuvia developed individual package High-Resolution Assay Monitor of PacTec LiftPac packages PacTec Type IP-1 LiftPac at Augean landfill disposal site; PacTec Type IP-1 LiftPac packages loaded at Harwell, UK; Stack test at US facility.
From the advent of increasingly detailed decommissioning programmes at each of the NDA’s 17 sites came an exponential increase in the predicted volumes of LLW that would emanate from decommissioning and site remediation operations.
The Solution
An innovative packaging design solution for Low Level Radioactive Waste
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has the responsibility and ongoing mission to safely decommission the UK’s redundant legacy facilities across 17 nuclear sites. This effort has, and is contin uing to present, many challenges concerning the safe management of decommissioning activities—which often require a change to existing practices and the establishment of a ‘decommissioning mindset’ to facilitate the introduction of new and innovative methods and procedures.
One of the key areas requiring change was waste management—in particular, Low Level Waste (LLW). Historically LLW has been grouped as a single waste category for packaging and disposal at the UK’s national Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR), now managed by Nuclear Waste Services (NWS). In the 1960s and 70s, the original process was direct disposal, where workers would tip LLW into trenches. Disposal procedures were progressively improved, whereby the LLW was loaded into redundant ISO containers to provide a ‘containment’ mechanism.
Over several years, this system evolved further— now using new ‘bespoke’ Half-Height ISO containers specifically designed for the transport and disposal of all LLW. After filling with LLW, the containers are grouted with a cement mix to provide a monolithic block structure within the container prior to final disposal in the concrete vault repository.
LLW would exceed the space available in the current LLWR vaults, and that the future planned concrete vaults were estimated at a cost of £3 billion. In parallel to the increase in the predicted volumes of LLW—the costs for the packaging, transport, and final disposal also increased exponentially, putting further strain on the NDA’s allotted budgets to accelerate decommissioning and provide high risk and hazard reduction of the UK’s legacy facilities.
The challenge to continually improve environmental performance, while providing cost efficiencies where possible and practical, is inherent in the development of new and safer solutions. This performance improvement goal has also required changes to existing methods, procedures, and working practices in many areas.
To realise this opportunity, it required a collaborative approach to develop and implement an innovative solution that collectively would provide a fit-for-purpose packaging, monitoring, transport, and disposal solution. This collaboration involved the NDA site licence company working closely with several supply chain organisations. Monitoring of remediated waste is a consignor requirement to confirm each package categorisation prior to transport and disposal from each site.
This presented a real risk of slowing and constraining decommissioning operations and therefore required a ‘game changer’ to the strategy for the disposal of LLW.
It was found that the revised future volumes of
A ‘Game Changer’ Strategy
Initial Development of Flexible Packaging for Radioactive Waste in the USA
personnel checking
The adaption of the PacTec packaging for primary containment of ILW has also been recognised as a ‘game changer.’ It has been a critical factor in the acceleration of risk reduction on high-risk facilities at Sellafield.
This solution has provided the primary mechanism for the diversion of VLLW and lowcategory LLW, which has relieved the demand for space in the repository vaults. It has also reduced overall disposal costs.
real-time assay monitoring and categorisation of waste packages.
The packaging solution was to introduce the PacTec tested and certified flexible industrial packages ‘Type 1’ and ‘Type 2’ (IP1 & IP2). This packaging ensured regulatory compliance with the IAEA regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material SSR-6, and the packaging and transport of LSA-I/SCO-I and LSA-II/SCO-II wastes.
Existing methods used steel containers that constrained and slowed the transport of the LLW, but the large volumes resulted in unsustainable costs. Therefore a new packaging solution was required to provide an accelerated method of packaging and transportation that was cost-effective, sustainable, and compliant with regulations.
PacTec was engaged in developing a packaging solution specifically for Low-Level Radioactive Wastes that would meet the regulatory requirements for the transport and disposal of ‘Type 1’ and ‘Type 2’ (IP1 & IP2) for LSA-I/SCO-I, and LSA-II/SCO-II categoryBuildingwaste.onPacTec’s knowledge and expertise in materials and industrial packaging, a flexible solution was developed, tested, and independently certified. The IP2 testing involved the required statutory stacking tests and drop testing to demonstrate regulatory compliance to transport LSA-II/SCO-II LLW, i.e., Industrial packaging ‘type’ 2, specifically for a homogenous mix of demolition debris.
In 2022 LLWR Ltd stated that over 95% of VLLW and low category LLW is now being diverted away from the repository, resulting in direct cost savings to the UK taxpayer of over £300 million.
The final element of the solution for the diversion and final disposal of VLLW and LLW waste was the licencing and granting of a permit to select existing hazardous waste landfill sites to accept radioactive wastes to a set upper threshold. Some sites were granted a permit with a Waste Acceptance Criteria to an upper general threshold of 200Bq per gram.
Following the successes in the UK, PacTec EPS developed further applications for flexible packaging and introduced new solutions and designs for Over Packing—including providing the primary containment packaging of Intermediate Level Wastes, (ILW) removed from high-risk and hazardous facilities at Sellafield.
packages Harwell UK; Test at Wyle Labs in the USA in collaboration and partnership with LLWR Ltd; Agency
at
The PDSR additionally permitted the transport of the VLLW and LLW packaging on conventional transportation, which was also a new and innovative solution that accelerated and reduced transportation costs together with reducing the number of transports required for the same volume of waste, thereby further reducing the environmental impact from the transport and the overall disposal.
To provide the underpinning and ensure regulatory compliance alignment with the requirements of SSR-6, an independently approved Package Design Safety Report (PDSR) was provided via a series of documents—including certificate of approval, design safety report, operating instructions, and technical instruction.
Subsequently, large volumes of LLW were safely packaged, transported, and disposed of over several years at DOE legacy facilities—accelerating decom missioning and providing maximum cost efficiencies.
Continuing Mission in the UK
Prior to introducing the flexible packaging into the UK, additional vibration table testing was carried out in conjunction with LLWR Ltd to demonstrate ‘routine conditions of transport’ as required by the IAEA regulations. This rigorous testing provided additional confidence and reassurance of the design and construction of the flexible packaging to meet the requirements of the regulatory authorities.
Vibration
•
NUCLEAR DIVISION • PACTEC INC
During the decommissioning of several US Department of Energy (DOE) legacy facilities, there was a requirement to transport large quantities of bulk LLW across vast distances for disposal.
Environment
MIKE SANCHEZ PRESIDENT -
12 — AUTUMN | 2022
Accelerating innovative solutions
What is it all about?
Co-organisers alongside NNL were the EPRI, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). We were also joined by EDF, in their capacity as a nuclear power organisation operating in the host nation.
An evening reception hosted at the Painted Hall in the heart of maritime Greenwich, known as Britain’s Sistine Chapel, officially welcomed nearly 200 delegates from across the globe who were attending the event.
Acknowledging their responsibility, speakers identified concrete solutions through comprehensive reports to offer benefits both for industry and the planet, focusing on the forum’s four key behaviours—being a challenger, embracing diversity, being a role model and having courage
The first Global Forum for Nuclear Innovation since 2019 took place on 17-19 July in London, hosted by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).
GEORGIE NODEN • PR MANAGER • NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY
Formed in 2019, this year’s forum was a collective effort to accelerate cultural and behavioural transformation, for the nuclear industry to play its critical part in tackling the global climate crisis.
Global Forum for Nuclear Innovation
Prominent speeches from Ming Tang, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at NHS England, and Sama Bilbao y Leon, Director General of the World Nuclear Association placed an emphasis on the importance of culture and behaviours in facilitating successful technical innovation, and how it is this combination that is vital in the global effort to tackle climate change.
Fran Scott, BBC science presenter and Royal Institution Science Content Producer moderated the immersive two-day gathering that followed at the IET Savoy Place, London.
Interactive workshops, including an audience participation game called ‘the drop’ explored these key behaviours in more detail and delegates were empowered to bring them to life and become a positive force within their own organisations and networks, embracing their role as agents of change.
Recognising that change cannot be led by one organisation alone, the forum’s purpose was to rally stake-holders from all aspects of the sector together to start connecting the dots and build a mutual vision for the nuclear industry’s future.
The first day began with a top four innovations panel, which covered advances since the previous forum in machine learning, advanced manufacturing and innovative frameworks for sharing comparable data.
The event took place during the hottest two-days captured on record in the UK, which gave delegates a poignant reminder that climate change is happening now, and the clock is ticking...
Dr Rob Whittleston, Director for International Engagement, Security & Non-Proliferation at NNL
Grand challenge workshops
“It was an honour to host the forum. The sector must not only continue conversations about the benefits of nuclear as an integral part of our current and future society, but also face into how innovative and disruptive thinking is essential to make that a reality. We hope attendees have an even greater enthusiasm for innovation at all levels and encouraged learning from other industries through our key behaviours, to break barriers and create a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.”
The Global Forum for Nuclear Innovation will return in 2024, with an announcement to follow on which organisation will welcome agents of change to drive this important agenda forward. For more information visit: www.globalnuclearinnovation.com.
A panel session rounded out the day’s programming, where hosts shared the ideas and learnings generated at the forum and participants left feeling motivated, to play their role to help make nuclear a realistic career path for more people, whatever their background.
Neil Wilmshurst, Senior Vice President of Energy Systems Resources at EPRI
“We really need to start thinking outside the box and to be inspired by other sectors, because nuclear innovation is not only about technical breakthroughs but also about global process optimisation. To drive change in the industry, we must challenge ourselves to adopt a holistic approach that can address the urgency of nuclear innovation for broader strategic objectives such as climate change.”
“Delegates at this year’s forum continued the journey begun in the Republic of Korea in 2019; focusing their attention on delivering innovations that help ensure nuclear power remains a reliable partner for a secure and sustainable future. At the event, participants developed actionable recommendations to deploy innovations on a global scale to extend nuclear power benefits beyond the generation of electricity, to reduce the cost of plant operation, to attract and retain capable staff, and efficiently improve safety.”
Philippe Guiberteau, Special Advisor for Technology Policy Activities at NEA
A memorable highlight was a character kitchen workshop on role models with Dr Rahul Mandal, a research scientist at the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, better known as the 2018 Great British Bake Off winner.
What’s next?
Day two provided a lively atmosphere for changemakers to compare approaches to four grand challenge workshops, focussing on how the nuclear sector can play a bigger role in decarbonising the global energy system. These were hosted by subject-matter experts, who outlined the challenge and then invited attendees to come up with ideas they could take back and implement in their spheres of influence.
“In 2019, my fellow co-organisers and I said this could not be a once-and-done effort. Accelerating nuclear technologies and changing traditional mindsets in this industry to drive innovation requires persistent, enduring collaboration at every level. Efforts like the forum are going to be critical to all stakeholders as we strive to meet our climate goals and make the global energy transformation.”
He tasked groups to create a smoothie in a bid to be crowned the overall winner, ingredients represented behaviours and characteristics from globally recognised leaders, which teams selected, naming their master-piece accordingly—it also had to pass the taste test!
A surprise moment where spectators joined in a rap by academic, performer, communicator, and writer Jon Chase also gained fantastic engagement, helping to instil the key messages and aims of the forum.
GBBO star and rap
Ed Bradley, Team Leader for NPP Operation and Engineering Support at IAEA
A commitment to collaboration
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Back after a long absence due to the pandemic, Nuclear Transport Solutions’ (NTS) rail division, DRS, once again opened their gates to families and enthu siasts from across the country at their open day.
This year’s event took place on Saturday 16 July at DRS’s Gresty Bridge rail depot. With gates not opening until 10am, a queue began to form from 8 o’clock as fans, eager to get access to their favourite locomotives, waited patiently outside.
There were also two very important locomotive namings at the event. The first saw “Max Joule”
The day saw around 3,500 people attend and raised over £39,000 for our sponsorship and donations fund, an absolutely outstanding figure which will go a long way to help deserving causes across the UK.
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There was plenty to keep the whole family entertained with the opportunity to sit in a real locomotive cab, get up close to working engines, witness a heritage locomotive start, nameplate auction, kids’ face painting, and much more.
Direct Rail Services’ (DRS) open day sees over 3,500 people gather for a family fun day, while raising thousands of pounds for deserving causes.
“It was a huge honour to be involved with both locomotive namings and I’ll be looking out for the engines running across our rail network for years to come.”
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“It’s the first time I’ve been to such an event and I have to say it was absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and it was just marvellous to see so many budding young Train Drivers and Engineers fascinated by all the engines and equipment on display.
His colleague and friend Tim Howlett gave a personal account of Paul before Paul’s sister Emma revealed the new plate, which will see his name continue on the railways he loved so much. It was an emotional moment but a fitting tribute to one of the railway’s finest drivers and friend to all.
Wanda Goldwag, Chair, Nuclear Transport Solutions
The second naming was very emotional for all involved as “Driver Paul Scrivens” was unveiled on locomotive 66424. Paul had been a driver at DRS for over 20 years, he was well known and well liked by all who knew him until his very sad death last year.
“The fact it is all done for deserving causes makes it even more worthwhile and I’m looking forward to seeing all the great work this money can do for the communities in which we operate.
The nameplate was unveiled by NTS Chair Wanda Goldwag, DRS Rail Director and NTS Deputy CEO Chris Connelly, and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority CEO David Peattie, who all paid tribute to Max’s lasting legacy and to honour the man who laid the foundations of the company we see today.
unveiled on Class 66 locomotive 66422, a tribute to one of DRS’s founders and its Managing Director until his tragic death in 1999.
niauk.org/annual-dinner-2022 nuclearinst.com/events
2022 | AUTUMN — 17
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Julia is in a buoyant mood when I meet her at the EDF’s offices in Central London. And so she should be, with the recent announcement that the government would put in £700m to the project.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I left my previous career in law to try and get Sizewell over the line, as a
There is, though, a lot of work still to do, with the next big milestone to get approval for the final investment decision. It’s no mean feat and includes raising 60% of the project funds from investors. It will, Julia says, “broaden the base of those owning shares in UK nuclear.” That means getting financial investors familiar with nuclear as a sector and “showing them how great it can be for the carbon content of their investment and ESG portfolios as well as offering a long-term inflation linked stable return.”
“The goal is to get people to look at nuclear, because it has a really great story. It’s great for levelling up, with stations often built in remote communities and it offers great careers for people, often turning apprentices into senior management.
As the person in charge of attracting investment for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, the UK’s next big green infrastructure project on the Suffolk coast, making time to nurture her own garden is an important distraction from the day job. But it also serves as a reminder as to why she’s doing it in the first place: to help protect the planet.
18 — AUTUMN | 2022It
has been a summer to forget for many British gardeners. A harsh and prolonged drought, coupled with a hose-pipe ban for some, has caused the green fingered among us a fair bit of worrisome head scratching. “It’s been distressing,” Julia Pyke tells me on a muggy afternoon in August, echoing, I’m sure, the sentiment felt by planters and horticulturists up and down the country.
“It’s because of climate change,” she tells me, “that places like Suffolk are so dry, so what we’re doing is hugely important.” The drought has brought the effects of global warming into sharp focus, and she is well aware of the dangers of not investing in cleaner and greener forms of energy, including the project she’s working on.
“What has also been helpful,” she says “is the government publishing a programme setting out its ambition for 24 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear by 2050. So instead of people having to make a huge effort to invest in a one-off project, they can see that there is a pipeline of projects with more investment opportunities.”
twin of Hinkley Point C, which I worked on for ten years, and so every step feels like a justification that that was the right decision to make, and that we can actually be part of the future nuclear programme in the UK.”
There is also excitement about all the other things the project could do. “I really enjoy all the other things you can do with nuclear, the direct air capture, the use of heat and of course hydrogen. If you’re going to build a big asset for which consumers pay, you have a moral duty to do the most you can with it, and to work in harmony with the rest of the electricity system for the most common benefit.”
“A huge amount of work has been done by lots of people to change the messaging around nuclear and the current crisis in energy security and affordability has encouraged people to look again. Elsewhere in Europe too we’re seeing countries that chose to close down their nuclear plants, like Belgium and Germany, now looking at keeping them open for longer. The landscape is really transforming.”
Julia Pyke, Sizewell C Director of Finance, EDF
From working on bringing Hinkley Point C to a Final Investment Decision when she was a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills to becoming Sizewell C’s Director of Finance, Julia Pyke is one of the nuclear industry’s most dedicated and hardworking individuals. She spoke with the Iolo James about getting Sizewell over the line, the importance of telling the nuclear story and her love of gardening.
For the time being, though, the focus is Sizewell, and Julia’s passion for the project is clear to see. She knows better than most the benefits it will bring not only to the local economy, through significant jobs and investment, breathing life into a supply chain re-vitalised by Hinkley Point C, but also to the whole country.
This is all part of Sizewell C’s “big sell”, as she calls it. And it’s keeping her team very busy; from introducing the financial community to nuclear, to obtaining an indicative credit rating for the debt the station wants to issue, the hope is that it will get the project over the line, with 2023 a realistic target for that to happen.
Sizewell C, though, is only one piece of the 24 GW puzzle, and many more nuclear projects will need to come on stream to make that vision a reality and Julia is very keen on helping the industry work as a whole, from GW scale reactors, to SMRs and AMRs. This is important to her, and is reflected in her role as a non-executive director with Newcleo, the startup working on Generation IV reactors.
On a more personal level, with her two Irish Setters, a brood of chickens and a garden to tend to, protecting the environment around her is reason enough to get Britain’s most important green energy project over the line.
What effect then has the current energy crisis, which has laid bare the importance of home-grown power, had on attracting investors? Has it made things easier?
She says that the tragic events in Ukraine have also focused people’s minds on energy security, “Five years ago people would have been looking at nuclear primarily for its ability to provide a lot of low carbon electricity, supporting the growth in renewables, but now they are also looking at it as a way of weaning ourselves off our economic dependence on gas.”
2022 | AUTUMN — 19
It’s also rock solid when it comes to issues of safety and waste.”
This is a really important and exciting step forward and it’s reflective of the conversations we’re having with developers and governments across the globe. I think you can expect to see us make more of these announcements showing progress in exporting the Rolls-Royce SMR.
We are experiencing an international emergency, there’s no other way of looking at it. Countries that have relied heavily on imported gas, or have Russian-led nuclear construction projects, have been forced to look elsewhere to meet their current and future energy requirements. The RollsRoyce SMR can provide affordable, sustainable, low-carbon electricity for the grid and industrial uses. It can provide energy security and help achieve net zero targets. These are the things that the world needs to help solve the energy crisis.
It was recently announced that you would be establishing a HQ in Manchester and a shortlist of factory locations has been decided. How important are these steps in making the first Rolls-Royce SMRs a reality?
What progress has the company made so far in 2022?
We publicly expressed our intention to target sites in North Wales and West Cumbria as the locations to deploy the first in a fleet of Rolls-Royce SMRs and hope to see other regions come forward and join those discussions. We have also shortlisted the sites where we will locate the first of three factories in which we’ll manufacture our components and modules for assembly at site.
Rolls-Royce SMR recently signed an exclusive agreement with a Dutch development company. How important was that and is it a sign of things to come?
With the GDA process underway, international agreements taking shape, and UK sites being targeted for development, it’s been a busy period for the Rolls-Royce SMR team. NIA spoke to their Chief Executive, Tom Samson to find out more.
Rolls-Royce SMR has signed an exclusive agreement with the Dutch development company ULC-Energy to work together to deploy Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) power stations in the Netherlands.
Our Manchester location will be a great base from which to lead our project and support the engineering team and the work going on to secure regulatory consent for our design, but it will be important in attracting people to come and work for our organisation. Manchester is a vibrant and exciting city and having presence there will help us develop a diverse, creative and dynamic culture for Rolls-Royce SMR.
When you add to this the interest from potential customers overseas and the work being carried out by GB Nuclear, I’d say it’s been a pretty incredible year for Rolls-Royce SMR.
The final location will come from a shortlist of sites in the north, midlands or Wales and will result in significant investment, long-term highskilled jobs and will support the UK Government’s aspirations for levelling-up.
We’ve seen an enormous leap forward in our organisation this year. We have just over 500 employees right now, we will have more than 850 by the end of the year and we recently announced the location of our new head office in Manchester.
Rolls-Royce SMR: Big things to come
We began the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process, which was the most significant step so far in securing consent for the Rolls-Royce SMR design to operate in the UK, and we’re making good progress through Step One.
Amid the current energy crisis, demand for new, clean British energy has become a clear necessity, has this affected interest in your programme?
Over 80% of the Rolls-Royce SMR is ‘factory built’ so identifying the best location for these factories is vital to our project. The first of three factories will manufacture the ‘heavy vessels’ and is the largest and most complex facility.
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Our hope is that the Prime Minister’s direction, with the creation of Great British Nuclear, will enable those decisions and instructions to happen this year.
We are ready to sign a contract to deliver our first unit and, with an order or instruction from Government, we can immediately begin building the factories to produce our modules and work with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority or others to host our technology within the UK’s existing nuclear estate. The Rolls-Royce SMR is the fastest and lowest-cost way of delivering more nuclear capacity in the DeliveringUK.
For more information www.rolls-royce-smr.comvisit
When we were challenged, by the Prime Minister, to outline the fastest way to get a nuclear reactor on the grid in the UK, we responded by saying 2029 was the earliest that this could be achieved, but it involves the Government making a commitment to deploy our technology in the UK now.
A few weeks ago, we passed the ‘10,000 days until net-zero’ milestone. In light of this race against time, how quickly can your SMR begin contributing to our energy mix?
SMRs at pace needs a strong and positive response from UK industry, together with clear direction from Government. This decisive action would mean the critical path to getting an SMR on grid in the UK is influenced only by the time it takes to manufacture our power plant in a factory—not only by the time it takes to decide or obtain the planning permissions.
“Ansaldo is delighted to have been awarded the SIXEP tie-in trials contract. This endorsement by the Programme and Project Partners in our ability to deliver this critical development activity for Sellafield is most welcome.
“This work provides another platform for us to continue our successful relationship with Sellafield Ltd and to further develop our Cumbrian presence and supply chain.”
Ansaldo Nuclear, based in Wolverhampton, has been selected to develop the key ‘tiein’ connections that will support the flow of effluent treatment streams between the Sellafield site’s existing Site Ion Exchange Effluent Plant (SIXEP) facility and the new SIXEP Continuity Plant being delivered by the Programme and Project Partners at Sellafield. Together the 2 facilities will act as the ‘kidneys’ of the Sellafield site filtering out nuclear material before being safely discharged to sea.
The Programme and Project Partners appointed its first goods and services agreement framework suppliers earlier this year.
New contract will support Sellafield facility for decades
The structure is the second of four “intake” heads being connected to 5 miles of tunnels, which will supply Hinkley Point C’s two nuclear reactors with cooling water. The two “outfall” heads have already been lowered into position.
“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to award the first contract as part of the goods and services agreement framework to Ansaldo “ThisNuclear.framework has been established to enable our projects to make quicker contract awards by removing some elements of a typical procurement exercise. This award proves that the model works, and I look forward to the projects placing more contracts in the near future.”
Hinkley Point C has released images of its latest spectacular engineering achievement—the precision placement of a 5,000-tonne intake head on the seabed of the Bristol Channel.
Each intake head, at 44 metres long and 8 metres high, is being lifted into position by two floating cranes named “Gulliver” and “Rambiz”, working in tandem. Their platforms are the size of football pitches and have a combined lifting capacity of 7,300-tonnes.
New images show Hinkley Point C’s Biggest Lift at Sea
Hinkley Point C is the first power station in the Southwest to have fish protection measures in place, including the low velocity heads, a fish return system, and screens. The heads are accurately placed sideways to the tidal flow with a very high degree of precision. This helps prevent fish entering the cooling system and the size of the intakes heads slows the flow of water on either side, allowing nearby fish to swim away.
The work to install all six heads will continue into the early autumn.
Andrea Basso, Managing Director at Ansaldo Nuclear
NEWS FROM THE HUB.
The work to install the system is regarded as one of the world’s most complex marine engineering projects—as the Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range on the planet.
The first contract awarded as part of the Programme and Project Partners new goods and services agreement will see key connections installed between existing and new facilities at Sellafield.
NIS Ltd, Hyde Group, Ansaldo Nuclear, James Fisher Nuclear, Carr’s Group, West Cumberland Engineering and NWEC Alliance were selected to deliver fabricated and manufactured equipment packages for the projects, a framework agreement for an initial 3 years, worth up to £20m.
Peter Hogg, Programme and Project Partners, Head of Supply Chain
The heads have been built by Balfour Beatty in Avonmouth, in Bristol, and are being transported to Hinkley Point C on barges. The lifting at sea, carried out by the marine construction specialists, NewWaves Solutions, takes several days, due to each step taking place within 6-hour tidal windows.
It’s been procured under a new multi project procurement model which encourages longterm collaboration throughout the supply chain, enhanced project delivery, and paves the way for greater economic and social impact in the West Cumbria region.
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Steel Dynamics will be the first organisation in the UK with UKAS accredited ISO 19443 certification. ISO 19443:2018 is an extension of ISO 9001:2015 specifically focused on the Nuclear Energy sector for those supplying products and services important to Nuclear safety (ITNS).
“It was a pleasure to meet the Minister at Trawsf ynydd last week, and we are extremely grateful for the Welsh Government’s continued support.
JET
At this time, the Strategic Business Case (SBC) has been approved and we are in the ‘Concept’ phase moving towards Outline Business Case (OBC) submission in 2023. This will identify and develop the preferred option including procurement strategy, potential opportunities for the market and the affordability of the programme. As this process moves forward the programme will define the initial stages of scope, scheduling and cost requirements. The programme is initially scheduled to have a 12-year duration and will become one of the largest active decommissioning programmes in the UK and is a ‘first of kind’ in the Fusion Technology market. To register initial supply base interest in the programme visit https://forms.office.com/r/ ZP2uexZR9i, this will allow interested parties to provide contact details and provide an overview of potential services that may be of interest to the Jet Decommissioning and Repurposing Programme.
North Wales Minister, Lesley Griffiths recently visited and heard more the future developments which would benefit the local community and wider“Northregion.Wales
“As well as helping to meet energy demands and net zero targets, we have an exciting opportunity at Trawsfynydd to deliver lasting benefits to local communities, as well as promote the supply chain, skills development and socio-economic growth in the wider North Wales region and beyond.
“Our focus will remain heavily on delivering these benefits as we develop the business case for investment and progress the development.”
The site also has potential to include a medical radioisotope research reactor to produce radionuclides for use in cancer diagnostics and treatment.
Plans for Trawsfynydd site could bring a huge boost for North Wales
Alan Raymant, Cwmni Egino Chief Executive
Decommissioning and Repurposing programme
Steel Dynamics UK ISO 19443 Accredited
Ian P Griffiths, CEO, Steel Dynamics
“I have been pleased to meet the team at the site and hear about the progress being made on proposals which would see Trawsfynydd be the site of the first small modular reactor under construction in the UK.
“The approval reinforces our position as the number 1 supplier of Stainless Steel to the Nuclear industry. It demonstrates our commitment to Health and Safety and quality and provides our customers with complete reassurance that all our materials meet the highest possible standards. I am incredibly proud of all our people who have contributed tirelessly over the last 2 years of this journey. In the future I believe everybody in the Nuclear supply chain will need this approval. It represents the very best in class of Process and products and provides the vital security the Nuclear industry needs as standard.”
Lesley Griffiths, North Wales Minister
has the potential to be a true leader in producing low-carbon energy and Cwmni Egino’s plans are a vital part of this, bringing high quality jobs and opportunities to the region.
The company is working with the landowner, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), to progress proposals for the siting of new nuclear development at Trawsfynydd.
Cwmni Egino has a crucial role to play in realising the potential of the Trawsfynydd site, North Wales Minister Lesley Griffiths has said following a visit to theEstablishedarea. in 2021 by the Welsh Government, Cwmni Egino’s work aims to bring forward potential new projects to generate electricity and further options to maximise the opportunities of the site.
Following the recent UKAEA’s 8th Supplier’s Event in July, and the launch of the Jet Decommissioning and Repurposing programme, it is important that UKAEA provide a status overview and provide a tool to allow the potential supply base to register their interest in the programme as part of the initial market engagement process.
2022 | AUTUMN — 23
As part of this, it was recently announced Cwmni Egino is embarking on a programme to bring small scale nuclear technology to Trawsfynydd, with work on site being targeted to begin in 2027.
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Instead of planning for, building and owning our own capacity, we brought in gas from the international markets to fill the gap. It was as if we were renting
The next Prime Minister must restore the reality of control. It is imperative to maintain that the next PM and the next Government carry forward the work and the ambition of Great British Nuclear in earnest and to completion. They should make the 24 GW target the absolute minimum of their ambition and make Sizewell C the start of a proper programme of large and small-scale reactor deployment. That means proper roadmaps for deployment at every viable nuclear site in this country, starting with Wylfa.
Similarly, there is a social media post doing the rounds of Nick Clegg averring in 2010 that new nuclear “wouldn’t come online until 2022.” Well, 2022 is here, and if we had started a full nuclear programme in earnest around 2010, we could have new capacity coming online in the coming winters. The long-term has a way of becoming the short-term like that.
Now we can learn from the obvious mistakes of the AGR programme—fragmented procurement, inadequate project management, constant design tinkering—but we need to revive and take forward the core ambition: deliver a series of reliable, British energy assets that will allow us to control our own future.
We must plan beyond the next year, the next decade, and even beyond our own lives. The coming winter may well be brutal, but we must remember that sting of failure so we do not bestow it upon our children as their destiny.
The new Prime Minister and Government face wreckage in the power markets. The UK saw record day-ahead power prices for 23 August of an eyewatering £539.59/MWh. The seven days 17-23 August averaged £415/MWh, another record. August as a whole was the most expensive month on record, and we have not even reached winter.
s an energy crisis grips the country, it is no exaggeration to say, that the price of power and the availability of power are dominant features of our politics in a way they have not been forWedecades.nowhave regular talk of the potential for blackouts or for curtailment of demand this winter, extensions of the government’s annual gas supply emergency exercises, and millions more people facing fuel poverty. We are looking at bills running up toward £4,000 per year, perhaps more, and to top it all off, we have a new government on its way in. (By the time you read this, that new Government and those new ministers will be in place: in late August, I could only guess).
our energy security from others on short-term contracts, rather than investing in long-term energy security ourselves. Yes, gas was cheaper at the margin than nuclear for much of the past decade, but we were never in control. Cheap gas only gave us the illusion of control, an illusion shattered by record bills, spiralling inflation and unprecedented instability.
They should move forward with deploying a fleet of the Rolls Royce SMR, and indeed, enshrine fleet deployment and continuous construction as the guiding principles of a new nuclear programme. They should not let land availability, planning, licencing or anything else within their power obstruct a new era of nuclear deployment and energy security for thisThecountry.NIA,for our part, will strain every sinew to make them see that in energy policy, the brave and the bold are the ones rewarded. Those with longterm vision, prepared to commit to assets that will not be operational until after their term in office, are the ones who make a real difference to this country and its future. We should remember that the existing fleet of nuclear stations, old and gas-cooled as they may be, are the most valuable assets in British history and still the cheapest sources of power on the grid. That did not happen by accident. Ministers had to make decisions that we would build those projects, even if it took years.
The next Prime Minister must take forward Great British Nuclear as a top priority
These intense disruptions and instability are the consequences—and sadly predictable consequences at that—of a decade and more of dither and delay from Whitehall. In fact, for decades, the UK has swerved the long-term commitments and major capital spending needed to prevent short-term crises and colossal spikes in bills. Decisions in the 1980s and 1990s to cut PWR deployment from 10 reactors to just one will cost us 17 billion cubic metres of gas use this year alone.
The cost of balancing the grid in the 12 months July 2021-June 2022 alone totalled nearly £3.5 billion, another record. National Grid issued three Electricity Capacity Market Notices in July and August as the heatwaves stretched margins to the limit. To avoid a small blackout on 20 July, the Electricity System Operator paid £9,724.54/MWh to import power from Belgium, 5,000% the normal price.
2022 | AUTUMN — 25 LINCOLN HILL • DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS • NIA
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