NuclearAMRC Q1 2014

news ISSUE 14

First light UK’s largest electron beam welding chamber fires up

£13m research funding Hargreaves gets Fit For Nuclear Triple Bar Nuclear Manufacturing EUROPEAN UNION NNL collaboration Investing in Your Future European Regional Small modular reactors Development Fund 2007-13

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Three AP1000s for Moorside 100mm weld promises

Joined-up thinking: full-size deep benefits cross-section of a single e-beam weld

Nuclear AMRC welding specialists have welds – between 20 and 80 runs for a 100mm with a horizontal beam, and successfully joined 100mm thick steel plates with thick section – with repeated non-destructive you still have to keep the metal a single weld. The landmark result means that evaluation (NDE) to ensure material quality. contained.” welding time for large pressure vessels could be With an electron beam, it takes just one weld and reduced from weeks to hours. one round of NDE. Electron beam welding also Initial tests show that the reduces the requirement for pre-weld machining, join has excellent material The team used electron beam welding, which as it requires a simple butt rather than a v-shaped properties, comparable to the is capable of joining much thicker components weld prep. plate material. The team has in a single run than other welding technologies also achieved 80mm single-pass while maintaining high material quality. The Baufeld’s team used the Nuclear AMRC’s joins in stainless steel and 85mm technique has become accepted in the aerospace Pro-Beam K25 to demonstrate the techology’s in nickel-base alloy. and automotive industries, but is not yet used in feasibility for nuclear applications. They achieved a WELDING FOCUS nuclear manufacturing. 100mm depth of weld using SA508 grade 3 steel, Baufeld and the team are commonly used in civil nuclear pressure vessels, continuing to develop the “Parts which would traditionally be welded in at a rate of 18cm per minute. technique to produce larger weeks could be welded in one day,” says Bernd demonstration parts, and apply Baufeld, power beam technology leader at the “100mm is at the border of what’s traditionally the lessons learned on the K25 Nuclear AMRC. “E-beam welding has a major done in the e-beam world,” Baufeld notes. to the Nuclear AMRC’s giant advantage in cutting costs for pressure vessels and new K2000 e-beam chamber other large nuclear components by reducing the One of the biggest challenges was dealing with (see below). time of production.” the several cubic centimetres of liquid metal produced by the electron beam. “You can’t weld • To find out more about the Nuclear AMRC’s Pressure vessel walls are currently joined by with a vertical beam because you’d lose metal electron beam welding capabilities, contact multiple tungsten inert gas or submerged arc through dripping,” says Baufeld. “You have to weld Bernd Baufeld: [email protected]

This photo shows the first firing of the Nuclear AMRC’s Pro-Beam K2000 electron beam welding chamber. At over 80 times the volume of the established K25 facility, First firing for giant the K2000 is believed to be the largest e-beam chamber in the UK. The 208m3 chamber arrived at the Nuclear electron beam AMRC in three sections in May 2013. Thanks to the hard work of the Pro-Beam installation team, its gun was fired for the first time shortly before Christmas. The cell will be fully commissioned and available for collaborative research from the end of March.

The Pro-Beam K2000 gives the capability to complete very intricate joins on large components using nine axes of movement – four for the component and five for the electron gun. It can be used to weld gas turbine parts up to three metres in diameter, with fully automatic joint following and variable thickness programming – capabilities found in only a handful of machines worldwide.

The Nuclear AMRC power beam team is currently scoping initial collaborative projects with civil nuclear partners. The chamber’s capabilities can also be exploited by manufacturers serving other sectors such as offshore renewables and aerospace.

Nuclear AMRC news Q1 2014 2 High speed cladding with high power laser

Next generation of cladding: simulation of the Nuclear AMRC’s diode laser cell

The Nuclear AMRC is adding diode laser cladding The Nuclear AMRC’s new facility features a Research will initially focus on proving the viability to its R&D capabilities, with a high power cell being 15kW Laserline fibre couple diode laser on a of diode laser cladding for civil nuclear pressure commissioned this spring. gantry-mounted robot arm, inside a cell measuring vessels. The cell will also be available for collaborative 10 metres square. The cell will be capable of research and development for other industries Diode laser cladding uses a powerful laser to rapidly depositing stainless steel, nickel alloys, wear-resistant requiring large-scale surface enhancement. coat large areas of metal with a high quality layer alloys and other specialist cladding material at rates of speciality alloy. Currently used in the aerospace, of up to 10kg an hour. The team will also use the facility to investigate automotive and offshore industries, it can potentially an innovative smoothing technique developed at revolutionise the production of pressure vessels “This is one of the most powerful diode lasers Rolls-Royce. An initial project used a diode laser for civil nuclear. Compared with current methods commercially available,” says Bernd Baufeld, power cell to produce a surface which is at least as smooth used to clad vessel interiors, such as conventional beam technology lead at the Nuclear AMRC. as a traditional machined surface, with an average wire or strip cladding, diode laser cladding can cut “As a research and development facility, we can roughness value (Ra) of 1.7μm. “This will allow us to production time from weeks to hours. work with large pieces and bridge the gap between clad a component and achieve a high quality surface small university-scale development and final large- finish in one set up, drastically reducing production scale production.” costs,” says Baufeld.

3 namrc.co.uk Growing potential for additive Proof of concept: SMD can create energy manufacturing sector parts from welded wire

Large parts for the energy industry can be In these markets, large components are typically “SMD gives material properties which are at

WELDING FOCUS made using an innovative weld-based additive made from welded fabrications of cast or least as good as conventional casting, with tighter manufacturing technique, a new study has shown. forged components. These can be weakened process monitoring and control for tailoring by impurities and defects from various stages of material properties,” says Woy. “We’re now Shaped metal deposition (SMD) produces the production process, which are often only investigating the problems encountered while near-net components by welding a continuous identified after fabrication is completed. Additive building the representative part, and exploring metal wire into the desired shape. This reduces manufacturing techniques such as SMD which other part geometries and features.” the material waste involved in machining parts feature in-process monitoring can radically reduce from a larger forging, and removes the need for these expensive defects, while cutting production The team is also looking at commissioning a larger the expensive tooling used in processes such time and material waste. SMD cell to create parts of up to two metres as casting. diameter. The basic technique can also be applied “Because SMD is basically a welding process to some of the other welding technologies at The technique was created at Rolls-Royce, which is widely accepted and used in industry, the Nuclear AMRC, including the new 200m3 and developed for aerospace applications in a it’s a relatively low-risk approach to nuclear electron beam chamber which includes a wire major collaborative project called Rapolac led industry manufacturing compared with other feed mechanism. by the University of Sheffield AMRC. Rapolac innovative technologies,” says Udi Woy, additive demonstrated the commercial viability of the manufacturing technology lead at the Nuclear “We’re very interested in exploring new technology, and developed an automated control AMRC. “However, there’s still a lot of work to get applications for SMD with companies,” says Woy. system while optimising the process to improve it to the stage where it can go into production.” “For the energy sector, it’s a very potent additive material properties. manufacturing technology.” To investigate the technique’s potential, the SMD The pilot SMD cell, now located in the Nuclear team produced a representative part, featuring • For more information on SMD and other AMRC research factory, features a robotically- two abutting cylinders, from 316L austenitic additive manufacturing techniques, contact controlled tungsten arc welding head within an stainless steel wire. The part was then analysed Udi Woy: [email protected] argon-atmosphere cell. It has seen interest from a to characterise its microstructure, mechanical number of sectors, including from manufacturers properties and chemical composition and – apart in the nuclear, oil and gas, and offshore from some material flaws thought to be caused by renewables supply chains. programming errors – met all requirements. £13 million for collaborative R&D

Companies are invited to bid for £13 million of collaborative research funding to The programme includes up to £10 million for business-led collaborative help develop the UK’s civil nuclear supply chain. R&D projects. Qualifying projects will generally have a value of between £500,000 and £3 million, and last two to three years. Businesses can claim up The programme, backed by the Technology Strategy Board, Department of to half of their project costs, or 60% for SMEs. Energy and Climate Change and Authority, aims to help UK-based businesses seize the opportunities of the growing global A further £3 million will be invested in pre-industrial feasibility studies lasting up nuclear market. The funding covers both industrial research and small-scale to one year and costing up to £150,000. Qualifying projects must be led by an feasibility studies. SME, which can claim up to 75% of project costs.

Eligible projects should help meet the demand for cost-effective, safe Applications open on 17 March. and energy-efficient technologies for nuclear new build, operations and decommissioning. The research should develop technologies which are already • If you would like to explore a potential collaborative project with the Nuclear used in the nuclear sector, transfer technologies from other sectors, AMRC, contact Dr Alan McLelland: [email protected] or investigate completely new solutions. • For more information on the funding competition, follow the links at: namrc.co.uk/industry/tsb-call-jan14/

Nuclear AMRC news Q1 2014 4 Tynan View The

Building momentum for 2014

The end of a year is usually a time for reflection, but the Nuclear AMRC (see p8). This is an excellent real team effort across the University of Sheffield Christmas 2013 brought news of a very important development for us, as NNL are world leaders in AMRC, specifically engaging the new AMRC Design development in the UK civil nuclear new build the field of nuclear research and this agreement Prototyping and Testing Centre as well as our programme: Toshiba is taking a majority stake in enhances our ability to deliver innovative solutions for manufacturing R&D groups. NuGen, the developer of the Moorside site next to advanced manufacturing with UK suppliers. in West Cumbria. Emerging technologies are going to be very Meanwhile, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority important for the UK civil nuclear programme, and NuGen will now focus on the development of (NDA) faces major challenges to deliver safe, key among these will be the small modular reactor the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor for the site, timely and cost-effective clean up of legacy nuclear (SMR – see p9). Much discussion is taking place in with three units proposed for Moorside (see p11 facilities, none more serious than the ageing plants the UK around the technology choices for SMR, and for details). This is a welcome development and at Sellafield. The NDA and its site license companies we at Nuclear AMRC are participating fully in the good news for UK suppliers, with Westinghouse need innovative solutions from their supply chains, debate. I believe we will see key developments with committed to a “buy where we build” policy in its and I am pleased that we are engaging strongly with the SMR for the UK during 2014. supply chain development. There is still some way to both the NDA and . go with the project, and Westinghouse will re-engage When I look back at the developments of just with the UK regulators to complete the generic One of our key areas of focus for the NDA is the the past few months, it’s clear that the civil design assessment for the UK AP1000, with an aim potential development of specifications for boxes, nuclear programme for the UK continues to gain of reaching full design acceptance sometime in 2016. containers and drums for decommissioning waste. momentum. These developments mean that 2014 A programme of work that delivered best-in-class will be a busy year for the Nuclear AMRC and, The vanguard of the nuclear new build programme, boxes for the NDA and the Radioactive Waste most importantly, further our mission to help UK EDF’s development with the Areva EPR at Hinkley Management Directorate could provide significant manufacturers win work at home and worldwide. Point in Somerset, continues to push forward with savings to the taxpayer. I am encouraged that EDF focusing on potential UK suppliers. A recent we are participating in this work as it calls upon a Mike Tynan, chief executive, Nuclear AMRC supplier day in London was well attended by supply chain companies, and the Nuclear AMRC was asked to attend and take part in a panel discussion with EDF and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. Speakers included Vincent de Rivas of EDF, who highlighted a new initiative with UK SMEs in the supply chain. I am delighted that Nuclear AMRC is part of that initiative.

Horizon , now owned by Hitachi, will develop the ABWR technology for the Wylfa Newydd scheme on Anglesey, and this technology is beginning its generic design assessment. I am in discussions with Horizon as to how we may help them in these early stages of the project.

Also before Christmas, I had the pleasure of attending the official opening of the Dalton Cumbria Facility, 11 miles north of Sellafield. That provided the opportunity to catch up with Andrew Sherry of the Dalton and Chris Moore of the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). We discussed a much closer collaboration between our organisations, and I was very pleased that the Nuclear AMRC could host the main board of NNL for their meeting this January.

Following the board, Paul Haworth, managing Three wise men: Mike Tynan (centre) talks with Andrew Sherry director of NNL, signed a new agreement with of the Dalton Nuclear Institute and Chris Moore of NNL the University of Sheffield for collaboration with

5 namrc.co.uk Hargreaves shows it’s Fit For Nuclear

Ducting specialist Hargreaves has gained a valuable benchmark of its position in the nuclear industry through the Fit For Nuclear assessment.

Bury-based Hargreaves has supplied ductwork and ventilation products to the UK nuclear industry since the 1950s, and is a leading supplier to the decommissioning and operations markets. But with the UK new build programme gearing up, the ambitious company wanted to make sure it was ready for the opportunities.

“We saw Fit For Nuclear as a mechanism to test our readiness for this market, and to engage with the key stakeholders in the industry,” says managing director Tim Hopkinson. “It’s given us a benchmark of where we sit in the industry as a business that is able to support the nuclear sector, and supported the reasoning behind the initiatives we’re taking.”

With a history going back to the 1870s, Hargreaves is now part of the international M+W Group. It has grown its business in recent years by focusing on specialised high-integrity ventilation solutions for the most demanding markets, offering a service from design, through fabrication and installation, to testing.

“We provide a complete turnkey ventilation solution, predominantly for the nuclear market,” Hopkinson explains. “Our products are focused on ventilation for safety and extraction of radioactive particles and contaminated air, rather than ventilation for comfort. These are often standard galvanised ductwork, and also stainless steel.”

From assessment to action Fit For Nuclear (F4N) is a unique diagnostic tool to help manufacturing companies test whether they are ready to compete in the nuclear supply chain. Managed Ready for new build: Tim Hopkinson and Mark Simpson by the Nuclear AMRC, F4N lets companies measure their operations against the at the Hargreaves factory standards required to supply the nuclear industry, and take the necessary steps to close any gaps.

Mark Simpson, quality manager at Hargreaves, completed the online F4N questionnaire. “The online assessment was relatively straightforward,” he says. “We had a really good feeling about Hargreaves from the moment we entered “We fill out a lot of prequalification documents for customers, and this was a their premises,” Ride says. “We had a very clear understanding of the business and similar process.” its strong safety culture before we had even left the reception area, an emphasis which they maintained through our visit.” The initial automated assessment rated Hargreaves at level four, the highest level. The next step was a site visit from the Nuclear AMRC, led by supply chain Ride worked with the Hargreaves team to produce a more detailed report and consultant Martin Ride. action plan.

Heavy ventilation: Hargreaves produces bespoke ducting for operating nuclear plant

Nuclear AMRC news Q1 2014 6 “Our background in the nuclear industry meant that we were familiar with this kind of process,” says Simpson. “The one real surprise to me was the focus on the strategic end of the process. Most audits tend to focus on doing rather than thinking, but it was clear to us why that was needed.”

The right direction Hargreaves is continuing to work through the strategic recommendations, in parallel with other initiatives including significant investment in IT, integrating building information modelling (BIM) techniques through the business, and ongoing work with local schools to attract young talent into the industry. “Fit For Nuclear told us that we are going in the right direction,” says Simpson.

The F4N assessment gave the Hargreaves management team a pragmatic and independent view of their operations, notes Ride. “The management team have made great use of what is clearly a well-managed continuous improvement and action plan, as part of their normal business way of working. They’re a really good example for others to follow and learn from,” he says. “With their planned IT investment and an embedded ERP system in the near future, they will be even better placed to succeed.”

The Hargreaves team also visited the Nuclear AMRC’s research factory in South Yorkshire to better understand what other support is available, and are looking at ways to further improve the quality of the company’s fabrication in collaboration with the centre’s welding team.

“We can try to continue to develop our quality and consistently improve our business, because ultimately that’s what nuclear is about,” Hopkinson says. “It’s an industry that’s primarily focused on quality.” • Hargreaves: mw-hargreaves.net Quality focus: the company is looking • Fit For Nuclear: namrc.co.uk/work-with-us/f4n at new welding technologies

Special award for F4N

The Nuclear AMRC’s Fit For Nuclear programme won special recognition at the first annual Nuclear Training Awards.

Operated by International magazine, the awards recognise training excellence across the nuclear sector. As well as rewarding five category winners – including the World Nuclear Association, National Skills Academy for Nuclear, ISTP in France, Sheffield Forgemasters International and EDF Energy – the judges gave special awards to Fit For Nuclear, the NSA’s Triple Bar Existing Sites course, US energy group Exelon and the Eastern European Research Reactor Coalition.

“I really think that the Triple Bar ES and Fit For Nuclear programmes are very interesting because they are concrete, pragmatic, very well adapted to the needs of the industry and to the expected workforce skills,” commented judge Jacques Regaldo, chair of the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

7 namrc.co.uk Plugging the skills gap Manufacturing challenge: staff from Nuclear AMRC and NES Ltd take part in the Triple Bar practical exercise

A new course to introduce manufacturing staff to the nuclear sector has won The TBNM trainers can deliver the course at a manufacturer’s own premises praise from participants in its first classes. or suitable locations across the UK for classes of 15 or more. Companies can also attend open courses at the AMRC Training Centre, located alongside the The Triple Bar Nuclear Manufacturing (TBNM) is a short course developed by Nuclear AMRC on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in South Yorkshire. the National Skills Academy Nuclear Manufacturing, a collaboration between the The open courses take place every six weeks, with the first in late January. National Skills Academy for Nuclear, Semta and the Nuclear AMRC. It is based on the established Triple Bar Existing Sites course, but tailored to the specific The Triple Bar Nuclear Manufacturing covers the basics of the nuclear industry, needs of the civil nuclear manufacturing supply chain. and highlights nuclear quality and assurance issues for manufacturers. The course also includes a nuclear manufacturing exercise, with teams competing to Following its launch at EDF Energy’s supply chain conference in London in assemble a set of plugs to strict specifications under a tight deadline. December, the TBNM course was delivered to employees at NIS Ltd, an experienced nuclear engineering group based in . “It was very informative and enjoyable – the practical exercise was good fun, and illustrated some important points about quality,” said Stuart Towers, Nuclear “Having worked closely with the National Skills Academy for Nuclear AMRC project manager. “I learned a lot about the nuclear process and the Manufacturing in the development of the TBNM, we were absolutely delighted strong emphasis on open culture and quality requirements, all the things that the to be the first organisation to host the course for 20 of our employees,” said nuclear industry expects. Even though I have worked as a supplier to the nuclear Gill Marsden, business development and project delivery director for NIS Ltd. industry, it’s always good to have a refresher.” “While we have 30 years of experience manufacturing for the nuclear industry, this qualification was a fantastic opportunity for our skilled staff to widen and • For information about upcoming courses, contact Stacey Balmer, underpin their existing knowledge in preparation for the new nuclear build TBNM coordinator at the NSA Nuclear Manufacturing: programme.” [email protected] Research agreement with NNL

The Nuclear AMRC has signed an agreement Howarth. “I’m delighted to sign this MOU, which with the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) to will help to formalise that recognition into a series collaborate on relevant areas of research and policy. of specific areas where our complementary skills, experience and facilities can be brought together to The memorandum of understanding (MOU) work more effectively.” recognises the vital and complementary roles played by the two organisations and confirms that NNL is owned by the UK government, but operates they will work together to ensure that research as a commercial business. It provides the experts and development activities are mutually visible and and technologies to ensure the UK nuclear industry complementary. The two bodies will also collaborate operates safely and cost-effectively, with facilities closely in the key area of nuclear skills development, across the UK. alongside the National Skills Academy for Nuclear. “The National Nuclear Laboratory is a world leader The agreement was signed by Nuclear AMRC chief in the field of nuclear research with thousands of executive Mike Tynan and NNL managing director man-years of experience in the nuclear industry, and Professor Paul Howarth during an NNL board I am delighted that Nuclear AMRC will work in close meeting hosted by the Nuclear AMRC. collaboration with Paul Haworth and his NNL team,” said Tynan. “Together, we will play a key role in the “Mike Tynan and I both recognise the enormous continued development of civil nuclear power as a potential that exists for our two organisations to Joint developments: Mike Tynan with NNL’s safe, reliable and valued provider of energy for the Paul Howarth at the Nuclear AMRC work closely together to progress the overall agenda good of mankind.” of research in the nuclear sector,” commented

Nuclear AMRC news Q1 2014 8 Big opportunities in small reactors

Bigger isn’t always better. A new generation of civil Because SMRs will be produced as modules in nuclear reactors, a fraction of the size of current a factory before shipping to sites for a relatively designs like the EPR and AP1000, promises to simple installation, they should avoid the costs of increase the security and affordability of power assembling very large components on site. Making generation while creating new opportunities for many smaller reactors should allow manufacturers manufacturers. to achieve significant economies of scale. But taking the current designs into production will present a Small modular reactors (SMRs) are seeing intense host of manufacturing challenges. interest from companies and governments. With outputs of less than 300MWe – for some current “The challenge with SMRs is to make nuclear quality designs, much less – SMRs could reduce the capital parts in the volumes that will reduce costs through cost of new generation, provide power away from economies of scale,” says Stuart Dawson, head of large grid systems, and improve safety and security. machining at the Nuclear AMRC. “But we are in a position to work with the developers who are at In late 2013, one SMR design backed by Rolls- the design stage, to help them through the design Royce secured US government funding to help for manufacture and prototype phases, so they can bring it to market. NuScale will receive up to half hit the cost and rate targets to realise the economic of its development, licensing and commercialisation benefits of SMRs.” costs over five years. The Nuclear AMRC’s research factory was specified NuScale’s SMR is a 45MWe pressurised water to produce demonstration parts for the current reactor and generator, which will be built in a factory generation of large reactors, but is also capable of and shipped in batches to build scalable power producing full-size SMR components to support plants of up to 540MWe. The core is cooled by product development. natural circulation, requiring fewer components and simpler safety systems than conventional reactors. “With machine tools such as our new Soraluce The combined containment vessel and reactor and the Dörries vertical turning lathe, we will have system measures around 25 metres in length by five the capability to machine full-size prototype SMR metres diameter, small enough to be transported by components, from tube sheets & tube support a single lorry. plates to various reactor internals,” says Dawson. The Soraluce FX12000 floor-type milling and boring The new funding comes from the US Department centre will be capable of working on parts up to of Energy, which has earmarked $452 million to 12 metres in length and five metres diameter, while support SMR licensing and technical development. the VTL can work on parts of up to five metres The DoE says its investment will help NuScale diameter and over three metres height. Both will be certify its design for the US, with the aim of fully commissioned later this year. achieving commercialisation around 2025. US energy group Fluor, NuScale’s majority shareholder, The centre’s latest welding and cladding capabilities says that the companies are evaluating potential (see p2-3) can also be applied to SMRs. “Electron beam and diode laser cladding are seen as key Small is beautiful: cutaway of NuScale’s SMR design investors, manufacturers and supply chain partners. (above); and concept design of an underground plant enabling technologies for SMRs, as conventional with two mPower reactors (below) NuScale will face intense competition from other welding and cladding methods for pressure vessels SMR technologies. Westinghouse is developing a are too slow for the required rates of production,” 225MWe SMR based on technologies deployed notes Keith Bridger, head of welding and materials in its 1150MWe AP1000 design. In July 2013, engineering. The smaller size of SMR high-integrity it announced completion of two SMR fuel test components also means that they could be assemblies at its facility in South Carolina. produced using powder metallurgy technologies such as hot isostatic pressing, another current The DoE has also backed the mPower 180MWe research area for the Nuclear AMRC. advanced light water reactor being developed by Babcock & Wilcox in association with Bechtel • To find out more about how the Nuclear Power. Other SMR developers identified by a AMRC’s machining and welding capabilities Nuclear AMRC market study include Advanced can support SMR development, contact Reactor Concepts, General Atomics, Holtec Stuart Dawson [email protected] International and Hybrid Power Technologies. or Keith Bridger [email protected]

9 namrc.co.uk EDF launches suppliers guide

EDF Energy has published a detailed guide for would-be suppliers to its EDF is currently inviting potential suppliers to pre-qualify against specific packages proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, Somerset. of work, and is backing the Nuclear AMRC’s Fit For Nuclear programme as a first step for companies wanting to gauge their readiness. The booklet, freely available online, gives a step-by-step guide to the procurement opportunities and the process involved in becoming a qualified The suppliers guide was launched at EDF’s Building our industrial future supplier which can meet the specific needs of the nuclear industry. conference in London in December.

EDF estimates that that around 57% of the £16 billion Hinkley Point C project • To download the guide and see video from the conference, go to: construction value could be spent in the UK. Companies may work directly for www.edfenergy.com/about-us/energy-generation/new-nuclear/ EDF Energy, for one of its delivery partners, or further down the supply chain for supplier-opportunities/how-to-be-a-qualified-supplier.shtml any of around 180 top-tier contracts. Horizon secures funding support and first

suppliers

Horizon Nuclear Power and Hitachi have signed a new agreement with the UK government to promote external financing for their proposed new power station at Wylfa, Anglesey.

Horizon has also appointed four UK-based companies to provide initial engineering and technical services for the project, dubbed Wylfa Newydd. The UK government will work with Hitachi New Horizon: Hitachi’s ABWR is starting its detailed design assessment and Horizon to agree an in-principle guarantee by the end of 2016 to support the financing of a new nuclear plant at Wylfa, subject to due diligence and ministerial approval.

“This is excellent news and another step forward “These contracts underline our aspiration to Horizon and Hitachi are aiming to start construction for Wylfa Newydd,” said Alan Raymant, chief become a leading new nuclear utility company of Wylfa Newydd in 2018. Hitachi acquired operating officer at Horizon. “It will build confidence and demonstrate real momentum,” Raymant Horizon in 2012, and intends to build two or three amongst our supply chain, future workforce, local commented. “Working with our new framework of its Advanced Boiling Water Reactors (ABWRs) at communities and, importantly, potential investors.” suppliers and their supply chains, I’m confident we Wylfa and at Oldbury, Gloucestershire. will continue to progress our detailed plans as we The ABWR entered the second phase of the UK’s Horizon also announced that it has signed strategic prepare for our first formal public consultation. generic design assessment in January. Hitachi-GE contracts with Amec, Atkins, Cavendish Nuclear The signing of these contracts also highlights our is inviting comments and questions from the public (part of Babcock International) and Jacobs commitment to working with UK suppliers and interested parties, and has launched a new Engineering Group. The four companies and their where possible.” UK supply chains will work with Horizon for the website to detail progress: next three years on consultancy and technical design. www.hitachi-hgne-uk-abwr.co.uk

Nuclear AMRC news Q1 2014 10 Three AP1000s for Moorside

Westinghouse in West Cumbria: NuGen’s new owners plan to build three AP1000 reactors

Westinghouse has confirmed plans to build “A diversity of reactor technology also means three AP1000 reactors at the Moorside site near diversity of supply chains, so the fact that we’re Diary Sellafield. looking at AP1000s alongside Areva EPRs and Hitachi ABWRs in the UK means that there will Some of the events that the Nuclear AMRC will be The announcement came as Toshiba, be great opportunities for manufacturers along the attending or hosting in the coming months – see us to Westinghouse’s majority owner, confirmed that supply chain and across the country.” find out more about how we can help your business. it is acquiring 60% of NuGen, one of three development groups planning new reactors in Westinghouse says that “a large portion of the Measurements in advanced manufacturing the UK. project” will be accessible to the UK supply chain. 12 March, Nuclear AMRC Fuel for the three reactors will be manufactured at NuGen was originally founded as a joint venture Westinghouse , near Preston. BMTA presents a seminar on innovations in materials between GDF Suez, Iberdrola and UK-based SSE, measurement and testing, hosted by the Nuclear with plans to build up to 3.6GWe of new nuclear “This project supports the UK government’s AMRC. The day includes presentations on the state of capacity at its Moorside site in West Cumbria. SSE policy for new nuclear development,” said Jeffrey the art in manufacturing measurement and testing, plus withdrew from the venture in 2011, and Iberdrola Benjamin, Westinghouse senior vice president the opportunity to tour AMRC facilities. www.bmta.co.uk announced that it would sell its stake to Toshiba in for nuclear power plants. “The global expertise December 2013. and commitment of Toshiba, Westinghouse’s Nuclear skills conference world-leading technology vendor status, and GDF 20 March, Manchester Toshiba has now announced that it is acquiring Suez’s pioneering expertise as a European nuclear The Nuclear Institute presents an update on current all of Iberdrola’s 50% stake plus 10% currently operator are a powerful combination. We know industry activities and plans for developing nuclear skills, held by GDF Suez, for a provisional price of £102 that this plant design is the right choice for the with presentations from EDF Energy, Horizon Nuclear million. The deal is expected to complete within future, the right choice for Cumbria and the UK.” Power, NSA Nuclear, Nuclear AMRC and others. the first half of the year. www.nuclearinst.com/Events/Nuclear-Skills-3- The AP1000, like Areva’s EPR, is a Generation Conference-2014/16445 Toshiba intends to move forwards with the III+ pressurised water reactor, offering a range of construction of three AP1000 reactors in safety, economic and operational improvements WEET Forum partnership with GDF Suez as operator, with the over previous designs. The AP1000 has an output 20 May, London first unit expected to be online in 2024. of 1150MWe. The Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum presents a seminar on the future of nuclear Mike Tynan, chief executive at the Nuclear AMRC, The AP1000 has been granted interim acceptance energy in the UK. Speakers include Hergen Haye, welcomed the news. under the generic design assessment (GDA) head of new nuclear at DECC; Humphrey Cadoux- Hudson of EDF Energy; and Mike Tynan of the “This is another significant step towards new required by the UK regulators. There are still Nuclear AMRC. nuclear power in the UK. The confirmation that some outstanding issues, which Westinghouse said it would not address until it secured a UK www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/forums/ Westinghouse will be building its AP1000 reactors event.php?eid=781 at Moorside is good news for UK manufacturers, customer. as Westinghouse has long operated a policy of buying where it builds,” Tynan said.

11 namrc.co.uk Work with us

The Nuclear AMRC is here to support manufacturing companies, from global giants to SMEs, which are seriously interested in winning business in the nuclear sector. If we can help your company, we want to hear from you.

Our R&D capabilities, training courses and determine our research and support programmes. quality support programmes are open to all UK We are led by our member companies on a manufacturers. consortium basis: our members decide what we do, what our core research projects will be, and what We can collaborate on specific R&D projects, skills and quality support we provide. using our expertise and facilities to help resolve your manufacturing problems and give you real We offer two tiers of membership, based on the competitive advantage. Your company invests size and market position of your company. Our directly in the research and has exclusive access to members include manufacturers from along the any resulting intellectual property. We can also join supply chain, plus specialist equipment and service or lead externally-funded collaborative research providers. projects. To find out more about how we can help your Full membership of the Nuclear AMRC gives access business, contact Martin Ride: to our generic projects and the opportunity to [email protected]

Supported by:

Technology Strategy Board Driving Innovation

Tier 1 members:

Contact us: Tier 2 members:

Tel: +44 (0)114 222 9900 Email: [email protected] Online: namrc.co.uk Twitter: @NuclearAMRC

Nuclear AMRC The University of Sheffield, Advanced Manufacturing Park, Brunel Way, Rotherham S60 5WG

Manufacturing Technology Research Laboratory The University of Manchester, Sackville Street, Manchester M13 9PL

Nuclear AMRC news Q1 2014 12