Trawsfynydd SMR project takes a step forward

Cwmni Egino, the company behind plans to develop the former nuclear power station in Trawsfynydd, has completed its first phase of development work confirming the viability of deploying Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at the site.

Development work undertaken by Cwmni Egino to date has established that land owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) could be suitable for a range of SMR technologies with the potential to generate up to 1GW of electricity.

Building on the work of the Snowdonia Enterprise Zone which identified the potential for SMR deployment, Cwmni Egino was set up by Welsh Government to promote economic and social regeneration by driving future development at Trawsfynydd.

It is estimated that SMRs at Trawsfynydd could create over 400 long-term jobs in the local area and over £600 million GVA for North West Wales and £1.3 billion GVA for the whole of Wales during over an operational life of 60 years. It would also create thousands of additional jobs during the construction stage, as well as through the Welsh and UK supply chains.

As the UK’s first site-specific development company for SMRs, Cwmni Egino has set its sights on being the first SMR project approved by the UK Government with construction starting before the end of the decade.

Alan Raymant, Cwmni Egino Chief Executive said: “In addition to meeting our energy needs and net zero targets, deploying SMRs at Trawsfynydd offers a huge inward investment opportunity for Wales. This is aligned with key policies and priorities of both the UK and Welsh Governments.

“We believe that Trawsfynydd presents the first, most credible opportunity to kick start a long-term programme of SMR projects in the UK, and catalyse significant economic growth locally, regionally and nationally. Cwmni Egino provides a development vehicle to drive this forward.

“Our plans are more advanced than other sites suited to small scale nuclear, and the work we’ve done over the past 12 months gives us added confidence that we can successfully deliver a project at Traws. We have already put in place a 5 year development programme which means our project can be ready for approval by the latter part of this decade in line with the UK Government’s energy security ambitions.”

The company is yet to select a technology partner for the project, and wants to work with Great British Nuclear (GBN), the recently formed UK Government body tasked with leading the UK SMR technology competition.

Alan added: “We’ve already been in discussions with a number of technology providers and there is significant interest in deploying SMR at Trawsfynydd. We will work closely with GBN over the coming months to confirm the technology solution that best suits Trawsfynydd within the overall selection process for the UK.

“The other key area of focus for us now is to secure Government commitment to the next phase of the project. In particular, we need confirmation that Trawsfynydd is one of the projects GBN wants to be developed. This will give us the certainty that we need to unlock this opportunity and access additional development funding.”

Welsh Government Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “It’s great news Cwmni Egino has completed the first phase of its work at Trawsfynydd and that genuine progress is being made towards realising the company’s ambition to begin deploying small modular reactors on site by the end the decade.

“We established Cwmni Egino in 2021 so it could lay the groundwork to achieving significant socioeconomic benefits for North West Wales and to ensure it achieves this, it’s vitally important Great British Nuclear now engages meaningfully with Cwmni Egino so Trawsfynydd is formally selected as the first SMR site in the UK.”

For more information on Cwmni Egino contact info@cwmniegino.wales.

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Grace McCrickard, Apprentice of the Year

Grace McCrickard from JF Nuclear is the 2023 NSAN Apprentice of the Year and Advanced Apprentice of the Year. Having been brought up in the nuclear heartland of Cumbria, Grace started her career at 16 with a traineeship, and since then she’s gone from strength to strength, following her dream of becoming a Senior Electrical Technician. The NIA’s Leia Mouchous sat down with her to discuss her career so far and hopes for the future.

Huge congratulations on winning the awards but first of all, how did you start your career in nuclear?

“I left school at 16, and I went straight into the nuclear industry. I did a traineeship in performing engineering operations which was 80% electrical engineering which included mechanical welding pipe. Upon completion, I knew what I wanted to do and at 17 I gained an apprenticeship, which started at JF Nuclear, specialising in electrical engineering. I am a control panel engineer, building control panels which control robotics. I’m in the RV industry, and I absolutely love it. I recently became a senior electrical technician, which is good and I’m happy that I’m moving forwardy.”

It’s great to see you’ve been working your way up since you were 16 what kind of work have you been involved in so far?

“What I do is I build control panels that operate our RV’s, so things like mini and micro diggers, which are in charge of cleaning up nuclear waste. We get a digger, strip it down and turn it into a remote control and I build the controls for it and all the underwater umbilical cables as it goes in the nuclear ponds in Sellafield site. That digger scoops waste to put into bins, so it’s all part of the clean-up. I am also a Unmanned Vehicle Solution pilot, so I fly industrial drones for inspections as well as operating the underwater ROV for inspections too.”

How have you found being a woman in STEM? Are there many barriers?

“I do think so, yes. At the start of my apprenticeship when I was 17 I was a lot more shy, so it was really daunting being in a male dominated industry. When I started at the company I was the only girl in the field services and I’ve been here for six years now and I still am the only woman here. I personally prefer it, but there was a lot of struggles at the start. I am quite a small person and when I was 17 I was extra tiny and I think walking into the industry you do get a few funny looks, but obviously I’ve proved everyone wrong and it only gives you more motivation to work even harder”

I agree, it can be daunting but I’m glad you used the challenge to motivate yourself and not let it deter you. What would you say is like your biggest career highlight so far?

“To be honest, the thing that I enjoy the most has been building the underwater umbilicals and to operate it and see it working. I know a lot of companies send designs away and someone else builds it. I personally like the fact that we design it, build it and then operate it and send it away, which is great. You see your project from start to finish.”

Moving on to your awards, what was your initial reaction when you found out you’d been nominated for the awards? And can you talk us through what happened at the award ceremony that night?

“My boss, Michael Rogers, nominated me for the awards, which was amazing because my company has never done that before. I was the first person to be nominated, which was amazing, and I was taken back by it. I knew it was a big deal, but the more I got into it with the interviews the more I realised how much of a great opportunity it was.

“When I won the Advanced Apprentice of the Year my boss and I got on stage, and it was nice to share that moment with him because he’s been there since day one. He was the one that reached out to me about the job as I didn’t know about JF nuclear. We’ve got a good friendship, so it was nice to go on stage with him.

“And then I won the main award too, the Nuclear Apprentice of the Year, and that was the best feeling I’ve ever felt. The whole room stood up, it was absolutely amazing. It was overwhelming to be honest. I haven’t stopped smiling since!”

Has anything changed since winning the awards; any opportunities or career ambitions?

“Along with the City and Guilds CEO Kirsty Donnelly I attended an event at the Goldsmiths Hall to do a panel talk about my career. There were members of the House of Lords there who were getting the fellowship, which was amazing, and it was my first ever panel talk. I have a podcast set up with City and Guilds coming up soon too. I’m also giving a speech in Parliament for Nuclear Week in September, which I’m really looking forward to. There has been a lot of opportunities that have come out of this which I’m really excited for!”

It’s great to see your hard work paying off and you are seen as an inspiration to others who want to be in a similar position to yourself. What advice would you give those starting their career in STEM?

“My advice would be to make the most out of every opportunity you’re given and say yes to every opportunity too. You can definitely turn one opportunity into several more.”

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