MAGAZINE OF THE UK NUCLEAR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION SUMMER / 2019
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INS Launches New Strategy 2
DECOMMISSIONING 14 AT TWI LTD Diversity and Inclusion in UK nuclear 16 NIA ESSENTIAL GUIDE 5 STAGE THREE
James Fisher Nuclear
Simply The Right Solution A world class project and technical integrator for the nuclear industry. Providing engineering, manufacturing and specialist services, built on a culture of excellence, innovation and practical experience.
UK reactor segmentation
www.jfnl.co.uk
Hannah Fensome hannah.fensome@niauk.org
Welcome to the summer edition of the Nuclear Industry Association’s quarterly magazine, Industry Link. We have a number of interesting stories in this issue, including a piece on Wood’s leak sealing service and TWI’s work to further develop nuclear decommissioning technology. We also have an article from Thomas Thor on Diversity and Inclusion in UK nuclear, as well as a piece on Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) granting its first nuclear site licence for an operating facility in 15 years to Tradebe Inutec’s Winfrith Site in Dorset. The publication of this magazine coincides with our summer reception and summer conference, where we will launch the new edition of the ‘Essential Guide’. This is a really useful publication, and I recommend you pick up a copy.
IN THIS ISSUE...
THE STRATEGIC PAGE 18 CASE FOR NUCLEAR IN A NET ZERO FUTURE
IN VIEW
PAGE 12
PAGE 6
15 YEAR SITE LICENCE FOR WINDFRITH PAGE 10
WOOD: SEALING THE DEAL
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Editor - Hannah Fensome Art Editor - Dan Powney Contributors - Peter Haslam, Ieuan Williams, Shayne Halfpenny-Ray, Stephanie McKenna, Sam Wilkinson – International Nuclear Services, Greg Willetts – Wood, Denise Cardenas – TradeBe Inutec, Tom Clover – TWI Ltd, Monica Mwanje – MM Creative Solutions, Callum Thomas – Thomas Thor Associates, with additional thanks to World Nuclear News
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Cover image: Courtesy of International Nuclear Services Limited - www.innuserv.com This magazine is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, using vegetable based inks.
International Nuclear Services launches new strategy BY. SAM WILKINSON ⁄ INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR SERVICES
2019 is a significant year for the international civil nuclear industry because it marks 50 years since the first intercontinental shipment of used nuclear fuel. And just like the other well-known feat of science and engineering that took place in 1969, this was pioneering stuff at the time. Needless to say British ingenuity was right at the heart of it, and in fact since its early beginnings civil nuclear power has relied heavily on the UK’s shipping expertise. Shipping supports all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle from uranium mining, to fuel fabrication and transport to reactor sites, to fuel reprocessing for recycling and the subsequent transport of the products of reprocessing.
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The UK has become a world-leader at transporting nuclear materials in the form of International Nuclear Services (INS). INS was formed as a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in 2008, but our history stretches back further. We began life over 40 years ago as the Spent Fuel Services and Transport Division of British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) and from our home port in Barrow-inFurness we have cemented our position as experts in the maritime transport of sensitive nuclear materials. Operating a fleet of specialist vessels INS, and our subsidiary Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd (PNTL), have safely covered millions of miles shipping materials including spent fuel, vitrified high-level waste, and mixed oxide (MOX) fuel around the world.
MEDIA WATCH NEWS
Industry supported National Apprenticeship Week in March. The nuclear industry employs around 2,000 apprentices up and down the country. National Apprenticeship Week presented the industry with the opportunity to celebrate the value of apprenticeships and the numerous opportunities on offer. Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the NIA, said: “It’s really important that we continue to train and invest in the next generation of nuclear workers. As part of the Nuclear Sector Deal, the industry is committed to creating additional apprenticeship starts in the supply chain and has also committed to a target of 50% female participation in apprenticeships by 2021.” In March the NIA published its latest public polling. The data found 72% of people support nuclear as part of a low carbon energy mix. In addition, nuclear is seen as the most secure for keeping the lights on, with 35% agreeing it is the most secure, followed by 16% for solar, and 13% for gas and offshore wind. The 2008 Climate Change Act established a legally binding climate change target aiming to reduce the UK’s emissions by at least 80% by 2050. However, the research showed that 73% of people agreed the government should be doing more to combat carbon emissions.” We’ve got incredible expertise in shipping, design and licensing and use that to help address UK decommissioning challenges and deliver high-profile nuclear security projects that make the world a safer place. By doing that our reputation for quality, safe and secure solutions to complex nuclear transport challenges has grown - we are recognised as a strategic asset for the UK and the international community.
“WHAT WE DO IS NICHE, IT’S COMPLEX, IT’S IMPORTANT – AND WE DO IT WELL” But whilst we’re proud of our success, we believe we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of what we are capable of. In April we launched our new strategy. It sets out how we will use the expertise and capabilities we’ve built up over the years to become the best global provider of nuclear transport solutions. The strategy is clear - supporting the NDA mission is still the most important thing we do. But it also sets out how we’ll win new transport and consultancy business in the UK and overseas, as well as support national and international nuclear projects that make the world a safer place. What’s more we’ll do all that by remaining commercially successful - delivering financial value to NDA, and meaning we don’t have to ask the UK taxpayer for funding. At INS we are proud of our past, and we’re excited about our future. We know that the UK and global nuclear industry still needs nuclear materials to be managed and moved, just like it did back in 1969. The new INS Strategy positions us as the foremost specialist team helping to solve these complex nuclear transport challenges around the world.
The future of the Joint European Torus (JET) project’s funding was secured in March with a new contract signed between the UK and the European Commission. Tom Greatrex said: “The nuclear industry has long called for clarity over the future of JET, and today we welcome the new contract which secures program funding until the end of 2020. This is particularly important for our member companies, and the 500+ members of staff, who are engaged with the cuttingedge research on JET, in Oxford.” The Nuclear Innovation and Research Advisory Board (NIRAB) published a report into Clean Growth Through Innovation providing an initial set of findings and recommendations in response to the tasks set by Government: →→ To monitor the delivery and impact of the BEIS Nuclear
Innovation Programme (NIP) and recommend amendments that may be necessary in the light of outputs from the programme and developments in the nuclear landscape →→ To advise where innovation could drive down costs across the whole nuclear lifecycle →→ To identify opportunities for greater collaboration with industry and international partners NIA members: Doosan Babcock, Kellogg Brown and Root pty ltd, Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure, and Wood, have all been awarded 20-year partnership contracts at Sellafield. The NIA said: “This marks the start of the new Programme and Project Partners approach to decommissioning at Sellafield, which is set to transform the way decommissioning tasks are carried out and will help ensure projects are delivered efficiently and effectively.”
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Bulgaria to find investor for Belene project The Bulgarian government has invited strategic investment in the Belene nuclear power plant project. Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania EAD (NEK) has developed a project for construction of a 2000 MWe plant in Northern Bulgaria. The selected design for Belene NPP ensures more efficient use of nuclear fuel than the second-generation light-water reactors, which allows generation of 20% more electricity using 25% less fuel. Potential investors have 90 days to file applications to participate in the project and the procedure is scheduled for completion by 22 May 2020.
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Fuel removal starts at Fukushima The process to remove used fuel from unit 3 at Fukushima has officially begun. It has taken several years for Tepco to remove debris from the reactor building service floor and prepare for this work to reduce the hazard at the accident site.
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There are 566 highly radioactive fuel assemblies, previously used to generate electricity, stored in the pool of Fukushima Daiichi 3. They will be moved one by one into transfer casks, which will then be lifted from the pool, cleaned and taken to a nearby storage facility. By removing the assemblies, Tepco will significantly reduce the radioactive inventory of the four destroyed reactors. The company was able to perform a similar process for 1331 used assemblies in unit 4, which had suffered much worse structural damage, by the end of 2014.
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Uzbekistan starts site selection process Uzbekistan has initiated the process to choose a site for its first nuclear power plant and aims to grant a site licence in September 2020. Uzbekistan is among about 30 countries that are considering, planning or actively working to include nuclear power into their energy mix. At the request of Uzbekistan’s government, the IAEA and the newly established Nuclear Energy Development Agency UzAtom held a workshop in Tashkent on safety and non-safety aspects to be considered in siting and site evaluation for nuclear power plants.
The workshop with participation of UzAtom, the nuclear regulatory body and other relevant national organisations focused on IAEA safety review services, safety standards and other resources supporting the siting and site evaluation for nuclear power plants.
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Brazilian government committed to nuclear Brazil’s national energy plan to 2050 will consider new nuclear power plants including Generation IV technology and small modular reactors to meet growing national electricity demand The Brazilian government is “strongly committed” to resuming the Angra 3 project, which will play an “important role” in the country’s future electricity system. The project will assure baseload security of supply for an interconnected grid of continental dimensions. In the period 2020-2030, Brazil would consider “existing technologies”, but advanced technologies such as Generation IV and SMRs must be considered in the period from 2040 to 2050. Brazil has large hydro power capacity, but this will not be enough to assure baseload generation and security of supply in the face of growing demand and a growing renewable energy capacity.
For more details on these and other stories please visit www.world-nuclear-news.org
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The numbers involved in the nuclear industry are big, very big. Playing a successful part in its supply chain requires determination, graft, and attending plenty of NIA business group meetings, dinners, and conferences. To those looking to be involved, just getting through the front door is a daunting task. The sheer amount of licencing, legal framework, regulation, and assorted arrangements that must be adhered to is eyewatering. Though as anyone who works for a company which has successfully bid for contracts at Hinkley Point C or Sellafield will tell you, it’s highly rewarding. This summer the NIA is publishing the third edition of the Essential Guide to the Nuclear Supply Chain. Expertly written by Glen Little, and with input from developers, technology vendors, regulators and government officials; this updated version of the guide comprehensively provides all the key, detailed information every company needs
to know to if it is to play a successful role in our industry. Glen has worked in the energy industry for over 35 years with significant involvement in nuclear, oil & gas, and fossil-power generation sectors. His career started with commissioning activities on AGR reactors at Hartlepool and Heysham, followed by 10 years on the refurbishment and plant improvement work for the Magnox fleet. In the early 2000s he played a leading role in the delivery of three major facilities at Sellafield, which led to his involvement in the UK Nuclear New Build Programme. Following his retirement as Doosan Babcock’s Director for Nuclear New Build, Glen has helped the NIA on a range of supply chain issues, producing the first Essential Guide in 2011. This has proved invaluable to companies wanting to enter the sector, and this updated edition will be widely welcomed. For more information visit www.niauk.org.
BY. IEUAN WILLIAMS
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Sealing the deal BY. GREG WILLETTS ⁄ WOOD
How do you stop a leak in a pipe that’s buried in concrete? Wood has the know-how Pipework for the shield cooling system at the Palisades nuclear power plant in Covert, Michigan, is buried in concrete. This means it shares a problem with the UK’s advanced gascooled reactors, which have the same design feature. When cooling pipes develop tiny cracks and begin to leak, access is impossible for conventional repair methods such as welding. That’s why engineers from Wood have been called out three times over the past 29 years to apply their own method of sealing the pipes. The latest visit was part of $87m of work carried out by Palisades owner and operator Entergy during a two-month refuelling outage which ended on December 28, 2018. George Ainsworth, a metallurgist who led the Wood team, describes how the leak sealing process works: “We inject a proprietary sealing formulation, consisting of resin and clay, into the pipe run, then pressurise it up to 40 pounds per square inch so that the mixture is forced into any defects responsible for the leakage. Then we flush out the excess, leaving plugs in the defects. “This sounds very simple, but in reality every defect is different and we have to assess the pipe materials and geometry, the operating environment and the defect size to determine the best sealant formulation and application to use.
FACTS ABOUT WOOD’S LEAK SEALING SERVICE →→ Seals holes up to 10 millimetres effective diameter →→ Highly durable and withstands operating pressures
of up to 1,000 pounds per square inch
→→ Resists corrosive or radioactive environments →→ Does not adversely affect pipework →→ Tackles pipe runs up to 100 cubic metres in volume →→ Successful in a range of operating environments,
including highly concentrated nitric acid
→→ Treats carbon steel, copper, stainless steel and
other materials
→→ Post-treatment flushing ensures that all excess
material is removed, eliminating the risk of plugging the pipework →→ Performed by fully qualified and experienced teams →→ Unintrusive, requires minimal plant modification →→ In the unlikely event that the repair is unsuccessful, the process can be repeated →→ In collaboration with Wood’s remote operations team, bespoke delivery systems can be developed for localised treatments
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“Cracks also develop for different reasons, such as thermal expansion and contraction, stress or corrosion.” At Palisades, George and colleagues Greg Fife and Joseph Large finished five days ahead of schedule by working simultaneously on most of the eight pipework systems which required attention. And they received a 10-out-of-10 score on every single customer feedback question. Developed in the 1960s to repair pressure vessel cooling water pipes in the UK, Wood’s leak sealing service has been successfully used worldwide in nuclear power plants, research facilities, nuclear fusion experiments, processing plants, chemical plants, particle accelerators, heat exchangers, water treatment plants and nickel refineries. Since then, it has been continually developed and improved from the initial concept so that there are now many variations and formulas to deal with a wide range of scenarios. As well as sealing pipes buried in concrete, the technology can be used wherever it is physically impossible to gain access or dangerous to do so because of hazards such as radioactivity, or where the cost of dismantling complex systems is too high. Even so, Wood’s team is unlikely to return to Palisades because the 811 MW plant is scheduled for permanent retirement in the spring of 2022, 51 years after it first began generating electricity.
“EVERY DEFECT IS DIFFERENT AND WE HAVE TO ASSESS THE PIPE MATERIALS AND GEOMETRY, THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT AND THE DEFECT SIZE TO DETERMINE THE BEST SEALANT FORMULATION AND APPLICATION TO USE”
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CHERNOBYL
BY. HANNAH FENSOME
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hernobyl’ is a five-part drama currently being aired on Sky Atlantic. While this has been filmed as a gripping drama, for many the word ‘Chernobyl’ is synonymous with nuclear disaster. It was the disaster at the V. I. Lenin Nuclear Power Plant in Soviet Ukraine in April 1986 that the ‘docudrama’ is based. As I sat down to watch the first episode, I knew it wouldn’t be an easy watch, but I hoped it would show the truth about the incidents that led to such a catastrophic event. What happened 33 years ago at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was the unfortunate result of a poor reactor design - a RBMK reactor - coupled with serious errors made by the plant operators, and a USSR culture which lacked safety practice, and encouraged secrecy and a lack of integrity among workers. Craig Mazin, screenwriter of Chernobyl, has come out on Twitter to speak about his programme, “It’s not, any more than Titanic was meant to turn you off cruise ships. This is a story about the dangers of lies, and the terrible costs that are paid by innocent people when arrogance and ignorance collide”.
‘C
What happened... Chernobyl was a RBMK nuclear power plant based on the Pripyat River about 70 miles north of Kiev. It was made up of four reactors. The plant operators were due to close down Chernobyl 4 reactor for routine repairs. However, before this took place, a test was to be carried out to see whether the turbine could, as it was shut down, generate enough power to keep the coolant system working. 167 graphite rods were used to control the fission rate – either speeding it up or slowing it down. When operators tried to reduce the power, the reactor had a tendency to increase power production instead. And this is exactly what happened.
Power in the reactor dropped to almost zero and the operatives had to remove the majority of graphite rods to keep it running. Reactor 4 saw a large power increase, which lead to explosions in its core that blew the roof off the reactor and blasted many tonnes of radioactive material into the atmosphere. The Chernobyl 4 reactor was destroyed, killing one person immediately and a second shortly after in hospital. Within three months, 31 plant operators and emergency service responders had died from the explosion and radiation poisoning. Around 300,000 people were eventually evacuated from the 2,000 square miles around the plant. During April-May 1986, Chernobyl released radioactive plumes which resulted in up to 40% of the land surface of Europe being contaminated.
2. The USSR System The USSR lacked openness and operated in a model that encouraged secrecy. In addition the KGB—the USSR’s secret police and intelligence agency— routinely suppressed news of nuclear accidents, keeping them secret. This included keeping them secret from reactor operators who could have learned lessons from those events.
3. The Safety Culture
Chernobyl was a RBMK reactor which had some key design f laws. In particular, the location of the control rods, the containment structure, and the combination of graphite moderator and water coolant. The unstable nature of the Soviet-designed reactor was well known, especially on startup and shut down when it could speed up at In the UK we have seven Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGR) and one Pressurised Water Reactors (PWR). The RBMK wasn’t built in any country outside the USSR.
What I hope viewers will take from the programme, and it is exactly what Craig Mazin, screenwriter of the Chernobyl drama tweeted last month, that “The lesson of Chernobyl isn’t that modern nuclear power is dangerous. The lesson is that lying, arrogance and suppression of criticism is dangerous.” One thing that I’m sure will come out of this is the reason why the nuclear industry worldwide puts such an onus on safety. It must remain the number one priority in planning, building and operating nuclear power plant.
Why this wouldn’t happen in the UK… This comes down to three main reasons: the RBMK reactor, the USSR system, and the lack of safety regulations in place.
Photo by Yasemin Atalay on Unsplash
1. The Reactor
The Chernobyl reactor relied on just one system to shut it down. While in the UK we have multiple systems that allow us to shut the reactors down, so we don’t have to rely on a single system. In addition, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is highly regarded world-wide, and is responsible for regulating safety and security at nuclear licensed sites across the UK. Colleagues in the nuclear industry will agree - safety is at the heart of the UK nuclear industry, and as a result we have some of the highest safety standards in the world and the UK has one of the best track records in the world.
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Achieving the UK’s first operational nuclear site licence in 15 years BY. DENISE CARDENAS ⁄ TRADEBE INUTEC
Denise Cardenas is Director of Security, Safety, Health, Environment and Quality at radioactive waste treatment and processing specialist, Tradebe Inutec. Denise shares the story of a monumental UK nuclear milestone achieved earlier this year on its site in Dorset.
We are absolutely delighted the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has granted its first nuclear site licence for an operating facility in 15 years to our Winfrith Site in Dorset. It’s another step in our growth plan but is also exciting and refreshing news for the sector. Securing the site licence was five years in the making and involved a huge amount of hard work and dedication from many parties, including working extensively with the ONR, Environment Agency (EA), Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Magnox Limited and local stakeholders. This achievement really underpins our aspiration to be the UK centre of excellence for specialist nuclear waste processing and management at Winfrith.
Why the need for a new licence? Our status as a tenant on the existing Winfrith Nuclear Licensed Site, for which Magnox Limited is the licensee, wasn’t sustainable in the long-term, as we were committed to continuing operations and growing our capabilities beyond the time when Magnox will end its site decommissioning operations. So, a change of licensee was essential to maintain our operations on the site and
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have the commercial freedom to meet our future business growth ambitions. Becoming site licensee was timed to coincide with Tradebe Inutec’s acquisition of buildings and land at Winfrith from the previous owner, the NDA. The result is that we now have freehold ownership of our existing buildings and additional land, where new facilities are already being planned.
Challenges and key success factors Tradebe Inutec‘s application for a new licence, submitted in April 2016, was the subject of comprehensive assessments by ONR. It focused on areas where responsibilities were changing and those which were judged to be important for maintaining the highest level of nuclear safety. There were many challenges for our business to overcome including prerequisites for licensing, the application, the purchase of the site from the NDA, management of multiple stakeholders and, of course, licence approval, which required ministerial approval and ONR readiness inspections. Looking back, the key success factors were: →→ Our
clear, open and transparent approach which helped us to build
strong relationships with all our key stakeholders, especially the ONR team. →→ The
effective planning and frequent communication of the licence benefits that really built the trust needed to gain our stakeholders’ buy-in.
→→ Tradebe
Inutec’s Winfrith nuclear licenced site now falls directly under ONR’s regulatory regime and is subject to regular inspections by ONR.
The future for Tradebe Inutec at Winfrith The nuclear site licence enables us to press ahead at pace with our plans to develop our workforce, skills and capability to create a UK centre of excellence for specialist nuclear waste processing and management. The site licence provides a sustainable future for Tradebe Inutec and highlyskilled jobs within the local community. We are looking forward to the future and to continuing to build on our partnerships with local stakeholders around the site, our regulators and the broader nuclear industry. We make the complex simple, delivering unique solutions to drive customer value and to accelerate the UK’s nuclear decommissioning mission.
#MakingComplexWasteSimple 2019 | SUMMER — 11
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IN VIEW
Key role for supply chain
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Image courtesy of Dounreay Site Restoration Limited — www. gov.uk/government/organisations/dounreay
D
ounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) has opened the door to dozens of companies to play an active role in supporting the delivery of Scotland’s largest decommissioning project. Construction of a size reduction facility, shaft and silo decommissioning and demolition of historic active laboratories are just some of the major projects expected to be delivered as part of a decommissioning services framework, potentially worth up to £400 million, which has been announced today. Six framework contracts have been awarded, bringing together the capabilities of 28 different companies, initially for up to 4 years with the possibility of extensions of up to an additional 3 years. It will take work at the site, delivered on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), into a new phase when historic wastes from the shaft, silo and low level waste pits are due to be retrieved, repackaged and consigned to modern waste facilities. The companies, ranging from small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) within the local community to some of the industry’s largest players, will now compete in ‘mini competitions’ for distinct packages of work that move the site towards its ultimate closure. Stephen Adamson, Head of Commercial Services, said: “This agreement will deliver real and visible signs of progress towards achieving our mission. It is about forming long-term partnerships so that the successful companies can work alongside our own Dounreay staff, ensuring a first-class team combining the best site skills and experience with the wider industry knowledge and innovation that the supply chain can offer.” In addition to technical submissions, bidders were also required to consider how they will help create a positive legacy in Caithness and North Sutherland with a number of plans put forward including support for STEM and SME development schemes. Once the UK’s centre of fast reactor research, Dounreay is now aiming to be recognised globally for decommissioning excellence. The work is being delivered by DSRL, a company owned by Cavendish Dounreay Partnership, on behalf of the NDA.
Nuclear Decommissioning at TWI ltd BY. TOM CLOVER ⁄ TWI LTD
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Benefits for Industry While the safety benefits of remote laser cutting are evident, in that personnel are not exposed to potentially hazardous environments, the process also minimises the complexity of deployment and reduces secondary waste arising from the cutting itself. Laser cutting has also been shown to reduce the time taken for this type of work, with a demonstration reactor ring being cut in around seven minutes as opposed to the 40 minutes the same work would take using a saw. Professor Melanie Brownridge, the Head of Technology for the NDA, has described the process as ‘safer, faster, cheaper,’ while noting the essential role innovation plays in cleaning up nuclear sites for the future. The NDA invests a total of over £90 million into R&D across its sites in order to look to the future and support innovation to help them deal with the decommissioning challenge. Sellafield was one site where laser decommissioning was successfully deployed following TWI’s investigation of the process, with its Chief Scientist, Neil Smart, saying the successful use of laser cutting has seen the technology used across the site as work continues to decommission historic structures.
TWI’s authoritative advice has led to further collaborative opportunities to create solutions for the management of hazardous waste, both safely and accurately.
The Future of Nuclear Decommissioning As a result of interest from industry, TWI has been working to further develop nuclear decommissioning technology. This has seen a particular interest in underwater laser cutting for applications where materials are either located in a submerged environment, such as with a nuclear fuel storage pool of reactor vessel, or where the items need to be submerged before cutting due to the potential fire risk. Further to this, projects such as the Subsea Laser project have been investigating options for offshore decommissioning. As independent and impartial engineering and industry experts, TWI continues to provide technical support to decommissioning efforts as well as peer review services for submissions to regulatory bodies. This not only helps progress innovation in nuclear decommissioning, but also ensures regulations and standards are met.
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
The nuclear industry requires the fabrication of parts in a wide range of materials with high standards to meet the needs of the nuclear sector. However, the safe decommissioning of these parts provides a variety of challenges related to remote handling and the long-term exclusion of waste materials by encapsulation and shielding, often by sealing them in metallic canisters for long-term storage (of up to 100,000 years) in deep geological depositories. Traditional mechanical and thermal cutting techniques, such as plasma arc or reciprocating saw, have associated risks and problems relating to matters including maintaining a uniform force, the generation of secondary waste and potential hazards for workers. In March 2009, TWI was contracted by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to explore the potential of lasers for surface removal of contaminated concrete structures and the size reduction of vessels and pipework. Laser cutting had previously been used in the automotive sector, but had not been attempted for nuclear decommissioning. The project, which was completed in 2010, drew upon TWI’s unique global experience of materials, design and fabrication of nuclear waste containers and has now led to the additional ability to cut thicker sections of material as well as laser cutting underwater.
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Diversity and Inclusion in UK Nuclear BY. MONICA MWANJE / MM CREATIVE SOLUTIONS & CALLUM THOMAS / THOMAS THOR ASSOCIATES
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e know diverse and inclusive workforces are more productive, more creative and make better decisions, but the question remains – how to get there from here? A new initiative called ‘’Diversity & Inclusion in UK Nuclear’’ creates a peer network for people managers and team leaders in the UK nuclear industry to share information that will empower and enable each of them to create the right working conditions for everybody to thrive. We all want to work in teams of amazing colleagues we can learn from, but how can we do that when fantastic people don’t even come through the door? Or when they leave because they feel unwelcome or when inflexible working hours are taking a toll? Or perhaps worst of all, when a manager or team leader is aware someone is uncomfortable but is uncertain how to put things right? Several initiatives supporting specific aspects of diversity in the nuclear workforce have been successful for years, for example Women in Nuclear and the Young Generation Network. In part thanks to their contributions the conversation about diversity has evolved to one about encouraging the inclusion of all people to mutual benefit, with respect and consideration for any way in which they may be a minority among their coworkers. In common with age and gender the nuclear industry workforce also needs to diversify in many other aspects, for example
in my team? Our vision is for them to find the answer to that question as part of a self-sustaining community of engaged managers and team leaders looking at the issue together and supporting one another. To bring all the stakeholders together with the most practical content we have created a new LinkedIn group called Diversity & Inclusion in UK Nuclear. By reading and discussing practically focused content such as tips, successes and case studies, nuclear industry managers will be informed on the approaches which are already known to work and empowered to take steps that will make an impact. We welcome all managers with a role to support diversity and inclusion to join and take part and we hope the organisations that make up the industry will support that. There is no doubt diversity and inclusion stand to transform our working lives, company performance and industry performance for the better, so let’s work on it together. As a group of 11,000 people at the front line, we can achieve real positive change by taking action ourselves in the way we build and manage our teams. Taking action means taking ownership of our own team and implementing ideas we gather from each other and from other industries. We are both very proud to have started this initiative, which represents a starting point for accelerated change, but it has to be sustained by all members as a group effort.
JOIN US FOR OUR LAUNCH EVENT From 11:30am — 6:00pm on Thursday 18 July in Central Manchester. This free of charge event will include presentations from experts in diversity and inclusion and from people managers in the nuclear industry sharing their experiences. Part of the event is an interactive workshop involving all participants and aimed at providing practical takeaways. Following the presentations and workshop there will be a drinks reception running from 4pm to 6pm, providing further networking and discussion opportunities. For notification of when registration will open please email: info@dinuclear.com
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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
race and sexuality to name just two, and to be inclusive to them all as well as the range of people’s personal circumstances such as mental health or family commitments. However, for organisations to become more inclusive they have to make changes around culture and leadership and this can sometimes be very challenging for people managers to bring about. Goals such as the one set by the UK’s Nuclear Sector Deal to achieve a 40% female workforce in 2030 play an important role, as do the policies handed down by CEOs and other leaders in the sector. But in the end we depend on the awareness and good practices of managers at every level to make diversity and inclusion an everyday reality for the 64,000 workers in the country’s industry. The good news is that line managers have on average six or seven people reporting to them, which means the front line group of people responsible for diversity and inclusion in UK nuclear is more manageable at around 11,000. This group includes all people managers, from team leaders with three recent graduates to CEOs with an executive team reporting to them. There is further good news in that a large amount of information already exists on diversity and inclusion, a lot of it coming from successful changes already made in other industries. We want these managers and leaders to ask the question of themselves: What can I do to support diversity and inclusion
The strategic case for nuclear in a net zero future BY. SHAYNE HALFPENNEY-RAY
I had the privilege of living in Portugal as a child, and one of the biggest natural disasters which continues to plague the region, is forest fires. This was my first introduction into climate change. Since then it has been ever present in my life; a core interest throughout my career to date in the energy sector and more recently nuclear power. Without a doubt climate change has already increased temperatures globally, driving down access to food and water sources, quite simply it is a travesty for both man and beast. It is now a primary focus for society, with more people than ever both accepting it as an issue and one we need to deal with immediately. But to tackle climate change, we need to not only cut emissions, but change the very foundations of our society, to create a cleaner, greener world. We need to shift our reliance on fossil fuels in transport, heat and industry; we need to fundamentally change the way we farm en masse; and we need to plant millions of new trees, and these are just a handful of the many goliath tasks we need to undertake in the next 30 years. It is fair to say the UK has been a pioneer in this. The work it has done in reducing the emissions within the power sector alone has been phenomenal. But with the rising challenge of decarbonising transport and heat, coupled with the needs of clean industrial and agricultural sectors, it is clear there is far more work to be done. What then does this mean for nuclear? I argue everything. Don’t just take my word for it though. The view of many
18 — SUMMER | 2019
scientists, businesses, and ecologically concerned citizens is a net zero future, as posited by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) in recent weeks, is only possible when backed up by firm, dispatchable, low-carbon power. Therefore, nuclear must be at the epicentre of any future energy system, working in tandem with all other clean power energy sources. Without it, I fear we will falter in our goals. This year, we have experienced our longest spell without the use of coal power since the Industrial Revolution, for over a week we used no domestic coal supplies for our electricity needs, which when compared to the 40% share of electricity coal had in 2012, is a triumph alone. However, we have replaced our coal dependency with gas. Our next challenge in coming years will be weaning off our reliance on gas, if we are to meet our 2030 targets, let alone net-zero by 2050. Added to the fact all but one of the existing nuclear power stations will go offline by 2035, there are some serious hurdles we still need to overcome in power, let alone the other parts of our society. We have seen time and time again, reports from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or from the Nuclear Energy Agency, even the CCC’s own report, ref lecting the daunting task of a net-zero carbon future. One thing they have in common is they conclude it is a highly improbable feat without nuclear, and even if it were, it would be vastly more expensive, both financially and in terms of risks to security of supply.
The Twittersphere BY. IEUAN WILLIAMS
Our message as an industry should be simple. We have safely generated secure, reliable low-carbon electricity for over 60 years in the UK. Alongside other low carbon sources, we are committed to leaving a legacy of clean power for generations to come. For this to work, our industry needs to continue our partnership with government through the Nuclear Sector Deal, particularly with regards to our focus on cost reduction for the whole lifecycle of nuclear, and to maintain support for the completion of the nuclear new build programme. We also need to shout out and celebrate the social benefits brought by supporting nuclear. Local investment, school funding, infrastructure spending, well paid jobs, re-invigorated businesses, local supply chains, all come from large projects, particularly new power stations. We have seen in regions with existing nuclear communities, the South West and North West in particular, nuclear has become an instrumental part in people’s lives, creating what my colleague Ieuan Williams wisely phrased, “family supply chains”. Coupled with the undeniable lowcarbon nature of nuclear power, this will resonate with people more than ever. If I can leave you with anything at all, it is that there is still support for nuclear power going forward, but only if we seize the opportunities out there for us as an industry. Without a doubt, our industry will be instrumental in the future of not just the UK, but the global mission in tackling climate change.
Since its very inception the internet has served one incredibly useful purpose, to be a graveyard of regret for public servants. This April we celebrated the eighth anniversary of “Ed Balls Day”, harking back to the momentous time when the former Shadow Chancellor tweeted those immortal words – his own name – which has become the Twitter equivalent of Christmas. Fortunately for us, that tweet still exists, and serves as a gentle reminder to all: what you say on the internet cannot be unsaid. Yet this warning has not been heeded by everyone. The snap General Election of 2017 was such a surprise, parties hadn’t actually worked out who their candidates were going to be for every seat, decisions had to be made as swiftly and efficiently as possible. With all the polling saying the Labour Party didn’t stand a chance, attention was on how to hold onto seats, as opposed to which ones to challenge. Fastforwarding a bit, a number of unlikely wins came about for Labour, including Sheffield Hallam. Nobody imagined Nick Clegg would be booted out, but after successfully mobilising the substantial student community, the previously unheard of, and un-vetted Jared O’Mara took his place. Straight away, reports from people claiming to have Who to follow? received abuse from the Want information on nuclear now-MP started to surface. and other relevant topics? It wasn’t until four months This issue we recommend later, with evidence of things you follow: he’d said online in 2002, that it escalated. Within a week, he @UKAEAofficial was suspended and then @NSSGNuclear subjected to an investigation. @NuclearSW Moving on to 2019, the nowremoved MP for Peterborough, Fiona Onasanya, was guilty of perverting the course of justice. Following the trial, she posted a bizarre YouTube video in which she continued to claim her innocence. One day she’ll probably regret making it, by which time it’ll be much too late to do anything about it. Then there was the time Tory MP Scott Mann suggested on Twitter all knives in the UK should be sold with GPS trackers in them to curb knife crime; and this May, when Boris Johnson told Londoners to follow his example and vote Conservative, except there weren’t any elections in London, but there were where his second home is in Oxfordshire. Why do things like this continue to happen? I have no idea, but at least it’s good entertainment for the rest of us. Twitter Count Followers: 6,905 Tweets: 10,367
@NIAUK
@scottmann4NC It’s time we had a national database like we do with guns... obvious exemptions for fishing etc. https://bit.ly/2JZ02GT
2019 | SUMMER — 19
NEWS IN BRIEF
Delta Controls acquires the Mobrey Range
Ray Harrison, Managing Director of Delta Controls with Damian Selina, Managing Director of Emerson’s Rosemount Measurement Ltd. sealing the deal which transfers Mobrey to Delta Controls.
Delta Controls announced it has signed an agreement to purchase the Mobrey line of measurement products from Emerson, the US global technology and engineering company. The new enlarged Delta business will offer customers a wider range of leading instrumentation products from a single supplier and, importantly, a long-term commitment to support these brands and technologies. Delta Controls has seventy years’ experience in the design and manufacture of temperature, pressure and flow process control and alarm-based instrumentation, with particular expertise in hazardous area applications. Mobrey is a leading supplier of level products for the power, oil and gas and water industries with a range of ultrasonic, float, magnetic, and other technologies. The Mobrey portfolio of point and continuous level products provide reliable measurement monitoring and control of liquids and dry products. Manufacturing of Mobrey products will continue at the Emerson Slough premises, ensuring continuity of supply and quality standards. For more information, visit www.delta-controls.com/news or email mobrey@delta-controls.com.
Wood to lead key component of research programme
20 — SUMMER | 2019
Wood has been appointed by the UK government to lead the second phase of a ground-breaking nuclear research programme. Experts from industry and academia will use collaborative virtual engineering and highperformance computing to demonstrate significant cost savings in the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of nuclear power reactors. Phase 1 of the Digital Reactor Design programme has successfully demonstrated a proof of concept by developing a computer-simulated design and management platform covering the whole nuclear life cycle, which is on the way to positioning the UK as a world leader in this area. The focus of Phase 2 will be to implement digital tools in a software framework, utilising real project applications to demonstrate improved efficiency, enable supply chain collaboration and ultimately deliver a cultural change across the industry. Wood leads the partnership, supported by partners and sub-contractors from industry, academia and science, including EDF Energy, Rolls-Royce, National Nuclear Laboratory, the University of Liverpool’s Virtual Engineering Centre, and the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear AMRC. The Digital Reactor Design programme is part of a broader effort to put UK industry at the forefront of developing Generation IV and small modular reactors, which could play a key role in meeting the UK’s future energy needs.
Technology to transform decommissioning
DRS comes out on top
Cavendish Nuclear is developing pioneering technology to transform the way we decommission active cells and other redundant nuclear facilities on different nuclear licenced sites in the UK and abroad. The In Cell Decommissioning System (IDS) brings together three existing technologies – the RadScan™ 3D gamma dose rate scanning technology of Cavendish Nuclear, the robotic laser-snake arm of OC Robotics and the VR expertise of Babcock– to create a remotely-operated platform that protects workers from radiation while giving them much greater visibility of the hazards. A short video, highlighting the benefits of this technology, can be viewed at https://youtu.be/9aWiK8beTrk. IDS’ modular form means that it can be tailored to suit specific applications and its functional capabilities can be adapted using a range of deployment systems and tools. This innovative system is something Cavendish Nuclear is actively promoting to its clients across the nuclear industry. Contact Jonathan.Britton@cavendishnuclear.com for more information about the IDS.
Exyte Hargreaves kick off for charity Left to right: Rachel Riley - TV presenter and host, Neil Curtis – Security & Resilience Director, DRS, Debbie Francis – MD, DRS and presenting the award Terry Eastmond - Finance Manager, Railway Industry Association.
Members of staff from Exyte Hargreaves recently took part in a charity football tournament to raise funds for Ocumel UK, a charity run by and supporting eye cancer patients, and Make A Wish Foundation, a charity who make life changing wishes come true for children with critical illnesses. Exyte Hargreaves fielded two teams in the tournament, each progressing against teams put forward by other local businesses, and down different sides of the draw. Hargreaves Team A beat Hargreaves Team B in the first of the knockout stages, eventually reaching the semi-finals and subsequently the runners up final, where they lost but gained 4th place in the overall tournament. The event was well organised by William Hare, with 8 teams overall taking part. A total of around £400 was raised for the charities. Exyte Hargreaves Project Engineer Jeff Newman comments, “It was great to have colleagues from both the factory and the offices put themselves forward and participate in an event for 2 very worthy causes. Everyone got to play all the games and although tiring towards the end, we all had a worthwhile time and enjoyed it” To find out more or to make a donation to either charity, please visit their respective websites at www.ocumeluk.org and www.make-a-wish.org.uk.
Direct Rail Services has been named ‘Top Employer’ at the 2019 Women in Rail Awards. DRS’ engineer, Lisa Graham, was also shortlisted as ‘Female Apprentice of the Year’ at the prestigious event in London earlier this month. The awards evening was hosted by television presenter and STEM ambassador, Rachel Riley, and attracted hundreds of representatives from across all areas of the UK’s rail industry. In only its second year, the awards ceremony has become the flagship ‘Women in Rail’ event - rewarding those companies and individuals who work tirelessly to improve gender balance, diversity and inclusion. Debbie Francis, Managing Director of DRS, commented: “What really makes our company a ‘Top Employer’ is the people, and we have some of the very best. “This award is recognition of all the fantastic work by everyone at DRS in making it a more diverse and inclusive place to work. I really am so very happy and proud to lead DRS, and I look forward to seeing what other changes we can make together to further build and strengthen our organisation.” DRS also sponsored the ‘Most Inspirational Man’ category, for the second year running, which was won by Abu Siddeeq from Great Western Railway. DRS is delighted to be involved with Women in Rail, which was created to improve diversity in the UK rail industry through providing opportunities and support for all women within the sector - encouraging more women in to the rail industry.
2019 | SUMMER — 21
NIA business group round-up
New Build
The last New Build Group meeting took place on 13 February at TWI Headquarters in Cambridge, with around 90 members in attendance on the day. Despite the recent news of Wylfa Newydd’s suspension, the mood was upbeat, and attendees were keen to know what steps were being taken to ensure the UK new build programme would continue. The group heard about the futures of Horizon Nuclear Power and Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe, the MEH Joint Venture on contracts at Hinkley Point C, and a progress update on Sizewell C. The GMB Union, Accenture, Nuvia, FiRe Energy, and Moltex Energy also presented to the group, as well as Officials from BEIS. The day before both the New Build and Decommissioning Group meetings at TWI, NIA members were invited to go on comprehensive tours of the facility.
Decommissioning and Existing Generation
In April NIA members were welcomed at TWI facilities in Cambridge for our Decommissioning and Existing Generation group. Over 100 members were in attendance, who heard from industry on supply chain opportunities across the UK’s nuclear sites in decommissioning. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Magnox Limited, Sellafield Limited and Radioactive Waste Management gave presentations on their ongoing work, as well as their strategies for the future. The group also heard from the National Decommissioning and Waste Management Pipeline group which sits within the Nuclear Sector Deal on their plans. The group are keen to hear from members and welcome any feedback. Other presenters included Cavendish Nuclear, TWI, Tradebe, Ab5 Consulting and Urenco Nuclear Stewardship.
International
Since the last edition of Industry Link the NIA has held two International groups, one in London hosted by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and another in Manchester hosted by WSP. The aim of the International Group is to bring NIA members together to identify international opportunities for UK based companies around the world. Over the two meetings the group heard about opportunities in Japan, France, Germany, Spain and more. Presentations were made from companies on their aspirations for the global market, and how the UK can be part of it. The International Group has a crosssector view of the civil nuclear industry, covering new build, decommissioning, finance, small reactors, looking at the challenges for our industry, giving practical guidance.
If you missed any of our business group meetings, the minutes and presentations are made available to view on the members’ section of the NIA website.
Coming up… →→ NIA will host a Fusion workshop with Culham on Wednesday 10 July. For more details visit the NIA website. →→ On Friday 28 June the NIA and Mott MacDonald are hosting a business case writing masterclass for member companies which
will look at the importance of developing strong business cases and their relevance to the nuclear industry. More information on this is available on the NIA website.
22 — SUMMER | 2019
Dounreay Thurso, Caithness dounreay.com
Jobs Map 2019 is coming
Manchester
PBO: Cavendish Dounreay Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, CH2M, AECOM) Lifetime: 1955–1994 Operation: Development of prototype fast breeder reactors People: More than 1,000
Wigan
Makerfield
Manchester Central Denton & Reddish
Manchester, Withington
Stretford & Urmston
St Helens South & Whiston
Stockport Cheadle Altrincham & Sale West
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey
Aberdeen North
London Holborn & St Pancras
→→A map for the UK nuclear industry →→ An excellent tool to highlight the
West Dunbartonshire
Rutherglen & Hamilton West
Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill Linlithgow & East Falkirk
Paisley & Renfrewshire North
Moorside Power Station West Cumbria nugeneration.com
Croydon Central
Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk Newcastle upon Tyne Central
PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Reactor type: 4 x Magnox Station lifetime output: 60 TWh Lifetime: 1959–2004 People: More than 290
Newcastle upon Tyne East
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale
Tynemouth
Developer: NuGeneration Ltd
Hartlepool Power Station Hartlepool, Cleveland edfenergy.com
Gateshead Sunderland Central
Sellafield Seascale, Cumbria gov.uk Belfast South
Carlisle
Springfields Near Preston, Lancashire westinghousenuclear.com/springfields PBO: Westinghouse Electric UK Limited Established: 1946 Operation: Nuclear fuel manufacturing, decommissioning and demolition of redundant plants and buildings People: More than 900
Reactor type: 4 x AGR Net capacity: 1155 MW (Heysham1) 1230 MW (Heysham2) Lifetime: 1983–2024 (Heysham 1) 1988–2030 (Heysham 2) People: 530 full time employees plus over 200 full time contract partners (Heysham 1) 520 full time employees plus over 250 full time contract partners(Heysham 2)
Wylfa Newydd Power Station Cemaes, Anglesey horizonnuclearpower.com Developer: Horizon Nuclear Power Reactor type: 2 x UK ABWR Estimated net capacity: 2.7 GW
Low Level Waste Repository Near Drigg, Cumbria gov.uk
Hartlepool Stockton North Darlington
Thirsk & Malton Morecambe & Lunesdale
Barrow & Furness
Wyre & Preston North
Preston Fylde
York Central
Leeds Central
Ribble Valley
Elmet & Rothwell Selby & Ainsty
Blackburn
Established: 2003 Operation: Design, technology, project management
Liverpool Riverside
South Ribble
Calder Valley
Chorley
West Lancashire
Manchester
Birkenhead
Rotherham
Warrington North Halton Aberconwy
Delyn
Ellesmere Port & Neston Alyn & Deeside Wrexham
Sheffield Central
Warrington South Tatton
Weaver Vale
Ynys Môn
Capenhurst Capenhurst, Cheshire urenco.com
Middlesbrough Stockton South
Westmorland & Lonsdale
PBO: UK Nuclear Waste Management Ltd (AECOM, Studsvik, AREVA, Serco) Established: 1959 Operation: Repository for the UK’s low level radioactive waste People: 246 employees
PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Reactor type: 2 x Magnox Station lifetime output: 232 TWh Lifetime: 1971–2015 People: More than 500
PBO: URENCO Nuclear Stewardship (Owned by URENCO Ltd) Lifetime: 1953 –1982 Operation: Nuclear fuel manufacturing, uranic storage, decommissioning and recycling
Penrith & The Border Copeland
Enrichment Technology Company (ETC) Capenhurst, Cheshire enritec.com
Wylfa Power Station Cemaes, Anglesey magnoxsites.com
Reactor type: 2 x AGR Net capacity: 1185 MW Lifetime: 1983–2024 People: 530 full time employees plus over 200 full time contract partners
Houghton & Sunderland South
Workington
PBO: Sellafield Limited (A wholly owned subsidiary of NDA) Established: 1947 Operation: Decommissioning and demolition of redundant plants and buildings, fuel reprocessing, dand storage of nuclear materials and radioactive wastes People: 11,112 employees
Heysham 1&2 Power Stations Morecambe, Lancashire edfenergy.com
Stoke-on-Trent Central
Crewe & City of Nantwich Chester Stoke-on-Trent South
Scunthorpe
Wentworth & Dearne
Derby North Derby South
PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Reactor type: 2 x Magnox Station lifetime output: 69 TWh Lifetime: 1965 –1991 People: More than 220
Culham Centre for Fusion Energy Abingdon, Oxfordshire ccfe.ac.uk
Mid Derbyshire
Peterborough
Oldbury Power Station Thornbury, Gloucestershire magnoxsites.com
Halesowen & Rowley Regis
Leicester West South Leicestershire
Meriden
Cardiff South & Penarth
Bath
Maidenhead
Kingswood
Tiverton & Honiton East Devon
Reactor type: 2 x AGR Net capacity: 965 MW Lifetime: 1976 –2023 People: 535 full time employees plus over 220 full time contract partners
Windsor Wokingham
Reading West Reading East
Surrey Heath
Mid Dorset & North Poole
Thurrock Dartford
Sevenoaks
South West Surrey
Reigate
Crawley
Horsham Mid Sussex
Brighton, Pavilion
New Forest East Gosport
Winfrith Winfrith Newburgh, Dorset magnoxsites.com
PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Reactor type: 2 x Magnox Station lifetime output: 60 TWh Lifetime: 1962 –2002 People: More than 130
Maldon
London
Runnymede & Weybridge Esher & Epsom Walton & Ewell
Eastleigh
South Dorset
Bradwell Power Station Southminster, Essex magnoxsites.com
Hertford & Stortford
Bradwell B Power Station Soutminster, Essex bradwellb.co.uk
South Thanet Faversham & Mid Kent
Developer: China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) and EDF Energy Reactor type: UK HPR1000
Canterbury
Aldershot Winchester
West Dorset
Stevenage
Mole Valley
Basingstoke
Christchurch
Exeter
Beaconsfield
Newbury
Tauton Deane
Hinkley Point B Power Station Bridgwater, Somerset edfenergy.com South West Devon
Bristol East Bristol South
Luton South
Hemel Hempstead
Henley
Wantage
Somerton & Frome
Hinkley Point A Power Station Bridgwater, Somerset magnoxsites.com
Plymouth, Sutton & Devonport
Bristol West
Developer: NNB Generation Company (EDF Energy) and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) Reactor type: 2 x EPR Estimated net capacity: 3.2 GW
Ipswich
North Somerset Bridgwater & West Somerset
South Cambridgeshire
Chesham & Amersham
Swindon North Filton & Bradley Stoke Thornbury & Yate
Cardiff North Newport West Newport East
Sizewell C Power Station Near Leiston, Suffolk edfenergy.com
Central Suffolk& North Ipswich
Cambridge
Buckingham Oxford West & Abingdon
Stroud
Hinkley Point C Power Station Bridgwater, Somerset edfenergy.com
PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Reactor type: 2 x Magnox Station lifetime output: 103 TWh Lifetime: 1965 –2000 People: More than 230
Bury St Edmonds
Wellingborough
Cheltenham Gloucester
Developer: NNB Generation Company (EDF Energy) and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) Reactor type: 2 x EPR Estimated net capacity: 3.2 GW
Harborough
Birmingham Ladywood
Tewkesbury
Ogmore
Suffolk Coastal
North West Cambridgeshire
Bedford
Carmarthen East & Dinefwr
PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Reactor type: 2 x Magnox Station lifetime output: 137.5 TWh Lifetime: 1967–2012 People: More than 390
Great Yarmouth
South Norfolk
North East Cambridgeshire
Corby
Rugby
Birmingham, Erdington
Redditch
PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Reactor type: 2 x Magnox Station lifetime output: 43 TWh Lifetime: 1962–1989 People: More than 210
Norwich South
Charnwood Bosworth
North Warwickshire
Berkeley Power Station Berkeley, Gloucestershire magnoxsites.com
Developer: Horizon Nuclear Power Reactor type: 2 x UK ABWR Estimated net capacity: 2.7 GW
Established: 1960 Operation: National facility providing major contributions to international fusion research and development People: More than 1,200
Nottingham East
South Derbyshire
Wolverhampton South East
Oldbury Power Station Oldbury, Gloucestershire horizonnuclearpower.com
PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Reactor type: 2 x Magnox Station lifetime output: 110 TWh Lifetime: 1966–2006 People: More than 200
Ashfield
Rushcliffe Burton
Sizewell A Power Station Near Leiston, Suffolk magnoxsites.com
Reactor type: 1 x PWR Net capacity: 1198 MW Lifetime: 1995 –2035 People: 520 full time employees plus over 250 full time contract partners
Aldridge-Brownhills West Bromwich East
Montgomeryshire
Sizewell B Power Station Near Leiston, Suffolk edfenergy.com
Chesterfield
Stone
Dwyfor Meirionnydd Trawsfynydd Power Station Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd magnoxsites.com
Bermondsey & Old Southwark
Edinburgh South West
Chapelcross Power Station Annan, Dumfriesshire magnoxsites.com
North Antrim
Vauxhall
Cities of London & Westminster
Twickenham
Edinburgh East
Glasgow Motherwell South & Wishaw East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow Glasgow South West
Central Ayrshire
North Ayrshire & Arran
Poplar & Limehouse
Putney
Reactor type: 2 x AGR Net capacity: 1190 MW Lifetime: 1988–2030 People: 550 full time employees plus over 180 full time contract partners
East Lothian
Airdrie & Shotts Livingston
Bethnal Green & Bow
Erith & Thamesmead
Torness Power Station Dunbar, East Lothian edfenergy.com
Edinburgh North & Leith
Edinburgh West
Brent Central
Ealing North
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
Glenrothes
Glasgow Central
Reactor type: 2 x AGR Net capacity: 965 MW Lifetime: 1976–2023 People: 520 full time employees plus over 250 full time contract partners
→→ Distributed to all members of the
Requests for data will be sent out from 14 June 2019 onwards. Contact dan.powney@niauk.org for more information
Ochil & South Perthshire
Stirling
Hunterston B Power Station West Kilbride, Ayrshire edfenergy.com
importance of industry to key decision makers
in 2018
Dunfermline & West Fife
Islington South & Finsbury Hackney South & Shoreditch
Uxbridge & South Ruislip
Argyll & Bute
PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Reactor type: 2 x Magnox Station lifetime output: 73TWh Lifetime: 1969–1989 People: More than 210
→→ 63,000+ UK nuclear workers
Wythenshawe & Sale East
Aberdeen South
Hunterston A Power Station West Kilbride, Ayrshire magnoxsites.com
House of Commons
Salford & Eccles
Bury North Worsley & Eccles South
Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross
Portsmouth North
PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Lifetime: 1959–1995 Operation: Centre for research and development, including the prototype high temperature gas-cooled reactor, DRAGON, and the Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor People: More than 220
Harwell Harwell, Oxfordshire magnoxsites.com PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Lifetime: 1946–1990 Operation: First centre for nuclear power research in the UK and the site of Europe's first nuclear reactor People: More than 330
Folkestone & Hythe Dungeness B Power Station Romney Marsh, Kent edfenergy.com Reactor type: 2 x AGR Net capacity: 1120 MW Lifetime: 1983 –2028 People: 550 full time employees plus over 200 full time contract partners
Dungeness A Power Station Romney Marsh, Kent magnoxsites.com PBO: Cavendish Fluor Partnership Ltd (Cavendish Nuclear, Fluor Corporation) Reactor type: 2 x Magnox Station lifetime output: 115 TWh Lifetime: 1965–2006 People: More than 290
2019 | SUMMER — 23
NOT A MEMBER?
NEW NIA MEMBERS
To find out about the work of NIA and benefits of membership visit the website niauk.org/about-us/membership-benefits
Calder Industrial Materials Limited calderlead.co.uk
Konecranes konecranes.com/industries/nuclear
With over 260 years’ experience, Calder is the UK’s leading supplier of lead sheet and lead engineered products, with a wide product portfolio and a diverse customer base. Based in the UK but servicing customers throughout the globe, Calder provide mission critical solutions with a commitment to reliability, quality and service.
Konecranes can expertly provide you with all the nuclear material handling equipment, services, and equipment including modernisations worldwide. It services any manufacturers’ equipment within nuclear power plants, nuclear waste storage and fuel processing facilities including the most critical safety-related lifting equipment.
Morgan Sindall construction.morgansindall.com Morgan Sindall is a leading construction and regeneration group that covers a comprehensive range of market sectors and specialist services. It delivers public and private sector projects and frameworks and has been appointed on some of the UK’s most complex construction and engineering schemes, providing tunnelling, utilities, building and civil engineering expertise.
PROCUREMENT & COMMERCIAL SERVICES FiRe Energy Limited Working with both governments and the private sector, FiRe Energy seeks to enable clients to realise both their individual ambitions and the wider challenges of meeting economic and sustainable development goals. With over 20 years of experience in nuclear, oil & gas, renewables and infrastructure projects the company provides strategic consulting advice across all stages of project life-cycles.
M2 Procurement & Commercial Services m2pcs.co.uk Providing procurement and commercial consultancy services for the Nuclear supply chain. M2PCS is a provider of business support services to clients and suppliers that are already in the civil nuclear decommissioning sector and to suppliers that are seeking to transition into the sector.
PA Consulting Services Ltd paconsulting.com An innovation and transformation consultancy that believes in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future in a technology-driven world. Its diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. It operates globally from offices across the Americas, Europe, the Nordics and the Gulf.
Hi-Tech Fabrication Madano madano.com HI Tech Fabrications hitechfab.co.uk Hi-Tech Fabrication has extensive experience in the fabrication and welding of heat resistant and corrosion resistant steels and alloys and specialises in high temperature and high pressure furnace tubes and components. Hi-Tech Fabrication is ISO 9001:2000 approved and routinely applies the full parameters of established quality control procedures and specifications.
24 — SUMMER | 2019
Madano helps clients define strategy and deliver objectives through insight, creativity and communication, focusing primarily on complex, highly regulated sectors including energy. Drawing on a wealth of expertise and experience, it delivers robust, thoughtprovoking work that creates value for businesses and organisations: building brand awareness, managing reputations, helping clients win work, and making change happen.
Tractebel UK tractebel-engie.com Tractebel is an engineering partner for realising sustainable, competitive and reliable projects. It provides a full range of services throughout the life cycle of its clients’ projects. As one of the world’s largest engineering consultancy companies and with more than 150 years of experience, it is able to offer multidisciplinary solutions in energy, water and infrastructure.
OPINION
PowerPolitics “DESPITE IMPRESSIVE REDUCTIONS IN RENEWABLES PLANT LEVEL COSTS, GOVERNMENTS WILL NEED TO ENSURE THERE IS INVESTMENT IN A RANGE OF LOW CARBON TECHNOLOGIES”
At the time of writing Brexit has been off the front pages for almost three weeks, which must be a record. Unfortunately this respite may be short lived. By the time you read this the Withdrawal Agreement may have been passed by Parliament following an unprecedented agreement between Government and the Labour Party or, perhaps more likely, negotiations will have broken down and the European Parliamentary elections will have taken place. In either case Brexit will be once again firmly centre stage. In the meantime it has been refreshing to see another issue, climate change, dominating the airwaves. While their demands might be unrealistic – reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 would trash the economy – the Extinction Rebellion protest has been very successful in highlighting the need for stronger action. Their blocking of bridges; boat mooring in Oxford Circus and gluing people to the Stock Exchange has meant some disruption to normal London business – in my case a more circuitous walk to Parliament and Whitehall – but has certainly caught politicians’ attention. With teenage activist and school striker leader Greta Thunberg subsequently meeting key players the momentum for more stringent carbon reduction targets is building across the political spectrum, with Labour even initiating a debate to support the declaring of an environment and climate emergency. This momentum has been ratcheted up still further by the Climate Change Committee’s conclusion, just a week later, that the UK needed to adopt a net zero UK emissions target for 2050 if it
was to play its full part in meeting the 1.5°C global warming target set by the IPCC Special Report. The Committee concluded this was feasible and cost-effective, but would only happen if current policies were ramped up considerably. Its scenarios included widescale electrification and a doubling of electricity demand; and since all power must be produced from low carbon sources this means a quadrupling of low carbon generation. The good news for our industry is that this ambitious target will not be achieved without nuclear, which currently makes up almost half our low carbon generation. The Nuclear Energy Agency published a study in April looking at the costs in OECD countries of achieving a carbon constraint of 50gCO2 per kWh by 2050, the reduction they would need to achieve to meet the Paris objectives. Building on the earlier work undertaken by MIT, this showed total installed capacity would need to double if a variable renewable energy (VRE) penetration of 50% was to be reached, with more than three times peak demand needed if VRE generated 75% of total demand. In other words, as renewable penetration increases, vast excess capacity and investment would be needed to meet the same demand. What this means is that despite impressive reductions in renewables plant level costs, Governments will need to ensure there is investment in a range of low carbon technologies – not just renewables – if decarbonisation is to be achieved at an affordable cost. Interestingly the NEA study shows that a mix relying primarily on nuclear energy
is the most cost-effective option to achieve the 50gCO2 target. In this context the NIA has put in a submission to the BEIS Select Committee’s inquiry ‘Financing Energy Infrastructure’ arguing that the UK’s future electricity supply should consist of a mix of technologies, with nuclear playing a key role. It went on to note the lesson from NuGen and Horizon was that Government and industry needed to work closely together on a new financing model to facilitate the necessary new nuclear build, and that this needs to be in place quickly if a Final Investment Decision for Sizewell C is to be taken in good time to take advantage of the experience at Hinkley Point C. Tom was subsequently able to underline this point in oral evidence to the Science and Technology Committee inquiry into Clean Growth Technologies, noting decisions would need to be taken quickly by Government if new nuclear plant was to continue to make a contribution. Hopefully Government will take this all up in its forthcoming Energy White Paper, currently scheduled for the summer. But if this is delayed – which can happen sometimes – it is important arrangements are made for a separate announcement on an earlier timescale. PETER HASLAM Head of Policy, NIA peter.haslam@niauk.org
2019 | SUMMER — 25
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