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British govt announces funding to develop advanced modular nuclear reactors

24th July 2020

By: Rebecca Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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The British government announced on July 10 that it was awarding funding of £40-million for the development of advanced modular nuclear reactors (AMRs) and associated technologies. This was part of the UK’s programme to develop new and low-carbon industries and energy sources, thereby creating both research and development (R&D) and manufacturing jobs across the country.

Three companies were each awarded about £10-million to develop their AMR projects. Another £5-million was going to strengthen the UK’s nuclear regulatory regime. And the remaining £5-million was being split amongst about ten companies to fund smaller nuclear-related R&D, design and manufacturing projects.

“Advanced modular reactors are the next step in nuclear energy and have the potential to be a crucial part of tackling carbon emissions and climate change,” explained UK Business and Industry Minister (equivalent to a South African Deputy Minister) Nadhim Zahawi. “Today’s investment will immediately create new jobs in Oxfordshire, Cheshire and Lancashire. But through this vital research, the technology could also create thousands more green collar jobs for decades to come.”

AMRs are a category of small modular reactor (SMR). Simply put, SMR designs are usually either miniaturised pressurised water reactors (PWRs), the latest iteration of which are called Generation III+ designs, or what are called Generation IV technologies, which use alternative forms of cooling, such as gas or liquid metals. AMRs use Generation IV technologies.

The three companies receiving funding for their AMR projects were privately held UK company Tokamak Energy (which was working in cooperation with a number of research institutes, including Oxford University, as well as industry partners), U-Battery (a consortium led by the Anglo-Dutch-German major international nuclear group Urenco) and the UK division of US nuclear group Westinghouse Electric. Tokamak was receiving £9 999 999, U-Battery was getting £9 999 195 and Westinghouse £9 998 387.

Westinghouse Electric was developing a lead-cooled fast reactor, while U-Battery was developing a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR) – South Africa’s effectively abandoned pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR) was an HTR (the U-Battery design is independently developed and different to the PBMR). Tokamak Energy, however, was focused on the most exotic nuclear technology of all: fusion. Not only that, but fusion achieved in a compact installation.

The ten companies sharing the £5-million ranged from startups to established major groups. They were Cammell Laird, Cavendish Nuclear, Createc Technologies, EDF Energy, Jacobs, Laser Additive Solutions, Nuclear Energy Components, Rolls-Royce Submarines, Sheffield Forgemasters and U-Battery. The purpose of this funding was to help develop new methods of manufacturing advanced nuclear parts for modular reactors.

More specifically, Cammell Laird would receive £5.1-million for its FAITH (fuel assemblies incorporating thermal hydraulics) project, while Cavendish Nuclear would get £1.3-million for its AWESIM advanced manufacturing project (AWESIM stands for automated welding equipment system inspection and monitoring). Createc Technologies would be given £314 595 for MW-CT robotic in situ computed tomography weld inspection system. EDF Energy, which operates eight of Britain’s current operating fleet of nuclear power plants, would be the recipient of £1 373 095, to provide AMR companies with guidance regarding the strengths and weaknesses of existing nuclear codes and standards in terms of AMRs.

Scientific, engineering, technical, consulting and project delivery group Jacobs would get £181 431 for evaluation technologies for advanced manufacturing qualification. Laser Additive Solutions would receive £826 633 for its SonicSMR project (an acronym for ultrasonic material processing enabled intelligent additive manufacturing with in-line inspection for SMRs). Nuclear Energy Components will be the recipient of £378 000 to develop technology that would allow the replacement of soluble oil coolant with super-critical carbon dioxide in machining processes, which would reduce costs, reduce environmental impact and improve material removal rates significantly.

Rolls-Royce Submarines would get £1.4-million for its future advanced structural technology and £259 989 for its sensing advanced structures (SAS) projects (SAS would develop new means of connecting sensor fibres inside and outside nuclear components without needing any penetrations of those components). Sheffield Forgemasters would receive £8-million for large-scale thick-section electron beam welding, and U-Battery £1.1-million to develop and demonstrate the concept of off-site modular construction of the company’s own AMR design.

One of the purposes of this government funding is to make AMR technologies more attractive to private-sector investors. Drawing in private-sector investment will further stimulate the development of the sector and create supply chains for future modular reactor programmes. These awards represent Phase 2 of a funding programme for AMRs. The UK government is also supporting the development of Generation III+ SMRs.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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