BNFL Energy Unit

1. BNFL Energy Unit Dr Paul Howarth Head Skills and Science Strategy Energy Unit

2. Content

3. Projected rundown of UK nuclear energy

4. UK Public Sector Fission R&D Funding

5. Energy Choices Conference

7. Nuclear Task Force Report: Rationale for Nuclear R&D 1. Provide support for the existing nuclear power generation programme 2. Maintain and develop competence in waste management 3. Keep abreast of international developments in next generation reactors and fuel cycles 4. Maintain competence to select, license and operate new reactor systems

9. Keeping the Nuclear Option Open

10. Timeline for New build: Skills requirements

11. Construction Phase

12. Critical skills required to select & license new designs have been assessed Core Design and Fuel Performance Systems Engineering Materials Performance Water Chemistry Criticality, Shielding and Radiation Protection Thermal Hydraulics and Transient Analysis Safety Performance Assessment

13. What needs to be done to Keep the Nuclear Option Open 1.SHORT-TERM Regulator and industry should undertake work on advanced LWR technical issues. 2.LONG-TERM Support advanced reactor R&D to: Help retain capability Attract young people to sector Rebuild university involvement Transfer knowledge Inform future energy policy

15. Generic Licensing Issues Use of digital C&I systems for protection & control Incredibility of failure of items (e.g. pressure vessel) Probabilistic risk assessment – reconciliation of approach Acceptable engineering codes and standards Acceptable computer codes Severe accident management Radiation and contamination zoning – compatibility with overseas designs Reactor shutdown provision (control rods vs boronation system) Advanced Passive Safety features Security – Aircraft crash etc Full prelicensing would exercise such capability but will not take place without political support and funding from an appropriate investor Therefore the best way forward is limited specific reactor related work on licensability and deployment of overseas proven technology. The Energy Unit has provisioned £260k in FY05/06 to initiate such activities. Full prelicensing would exercise such capability but will not take place without political support and funding from an appropriate investor Therefore the best way forward is limited specific reactor related work on licensability and deployment of overseas proven technology. The Energy Unit has provisioned £260k in FY05/06 to initiate such activities.

17. Some Academic Initiatives (Involving BNFL) Research Council “Keeping the Nuclear Option Open” programme - £6m investment programme across UK universities Establishment of Dalton Nuclear Institute at Manchester University New Chairs in Decommissioning Engineering and Radiation Chemistry “Letter of Agreement” Group facilitated by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council involving BNFL, Ministry of Defence, AWE, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, British Energy. Proposed Engineering Doctorate Centre in Nuclear Technology At non-PhD, MSc level proposed National Nuclear Skills Academy Full prelicensing would exercise such capability but will not take place without political support and funding from an appropriate investor Therefore the best way forward is limited specific reactor related work on licensability and deployment of overseas proven technology. The Energy Unit has provisioned £260k in FY05/06 to initiate such activities. Full prelicensing would exercise such capability but will not take place without political support and funding from an appropriate investor Therefore the best way forward is limited specific reactor related work on licensability and deployment of overseas proven technology. The Energy Unit has provisioned £260k in FY05/06 to initiate such activities.

19. Generation IV Systems Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GFR) Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) Supercritical Water-Cooled Reactor (SCWR) Very-High-Temperature Reactor (VHTR) Source: http://www.jaeri.go.jp/english/ff/ff43/randd01.htmlSource: http://www.jaeri.go.jp/english/ff/ff43/randd01.html

20. Historic Position on Advanced Reactor Research

21. Adv. Reactors programme needs to balance

23. UK links to Fusion Technology Hosting of Joint European Torus Involvement in ITER development Development of the Small-Aspect Ratio / High Beta Tokomaks Innovative design to further “data envelope” Support to ITER as Irradiation Facility Possible power generation source Proposal for the Fusion Fast Track programme

24. Common Technologies Materials Performance Joint Proposal being developed between Fusion & Fission Communities Nuclear Physics and Data Remote Engineering Diagnostics & Instrumentation Safety Assessment Methodology Public Perception, Risk, Economics etc Fusion and Gen IV Fission systems are complimentary

26. Some Positive Developments in the UK Government Research Councils are investing £10m in academia to underpin critical capability Government has committed £10m over next two years into advanced reactor research A Nuclear Technology Education Consortium (NTEC) has been set up involving 11 UK universities. At Manchester University the Dalton Nuclear Institute has been established aimed at revitalising skills, training and nuclear research Possibility of establishing a skills academy Possibility of establishing a national nuclear lab Strong links are developing across fission and fusion communities