<<

Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse 2 great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse 3

Welcome to the home of UK civil nuclear

Markets. Expertise. Connectivity.

The Northern Powerhouse is the beating heart of the UK’s leading civil nuclear industry. It was where the industry began with the world’s first civil nuclear plant, and today is home to the global- leading centre for decommissioning at , two existing stations, the headquarters of the industry regulator – the Office of Nuclear Regulation – and a key area of operation for all of the UK’s major nuclear companies.

Nowhere else in Europe is so much nuclear expertise so concentrated, with unparalleled access to a world-renowned skills base and pioneering expertise in nuclear research and development. Hundreds of companies and investors in the nuclear industry – including global leaders such as URENCO, Westinghouse, , EDF Energy, National Nuclear Laboratory and NuGen – already benefit from the geographic proximity and easy connectivity to build more efficient and reliable supply chains, readily access customers across the UK, and access a pool of highly-skilled people attuned to the specific needs of the nuclear industry.

The Northern Powerhouse is spearheading industry innovation, with the region being chosen to establish the world-leading Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC); the UK-China Joint Research and Innovation Centre (JRIC); and the High Temperature Facility (HTF) for materials testing.

“Almost half the UK’s civil nuclear jobs are in the Northern Powerhouse.” Source: Nuclear Industry Association jobs map 4 great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse 5

Here you’ll also find the largest and most connected As the nuclear renaissance continues to gather community of nuclear academics and researchers pace, the UK is set to embark on a significant anywhere in the UK. The Northern Powerhouse civil nuclear build programme. The opportunities Investing in the is the centre for skills and education, including within the Northern Powerhouse for organisations The National Skills Academy for Nuclear and the looking to succeed within the nuclear sector are Northern Powerhouse National College for Nuclear. Nearly half of the now, more than ever, unmissable. Come and join UK’s civil nuclear industry is employed within the us to benefit from a wealth of customers, talent, The UK Government is committed to building a Within the nuclear sector, ambitious companies Northern Powerhouse, and there exists a vast range skills, operational excellence, market access, Northern Powerhouse that enables the great cities are recognising that the North of England’s unique of vocational courses, apprenticeships, graduate unrivalled nuclear experience and a concentration and towns of the North of England to pool their expertise and capabilities, exceptional access to and postgraduate courses, helping foster and of specialist nuclear companies you simply will strengths and realise their enormous potential. markets and central location is needed for their retain world-class expertise within the region. R&D not find anywhere else. The Government is spending £13 billion on global or regional headquarters. in cutting-edge nuclear developments is enhanced transport in the Northern Powerhouse to improve by the vibrant and dynamic collaboration between connectivity, as well as funding groundbreaking universities, nuclear organisations and companies. scientific projects and supporting exciting arts and sports ventures. Our key markets 1. Decommissioning 2. New-build programmes 3. Full fuel cycle services 4. Current fleet operations £350billion The Northern Powerhouse has a GDP which, if it were a country, would make it the 21st largest economy in the world 6 great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse 7

Where civil nuclear began Across the full fuel cycle

and continues to flourish Addressing the complex challenges of the nuclear Nuclear in the fuel cycle needs careful consideration and expertise. The Northern Powerhouse is the only area in the NuclearNorthern Fuel CyclePowerhouse From the start of the industrial revolution, to the Rolls-Royce, and Nuvia, have a significant presence UK with full fuel cycle capabilities, undertaking first artificial splitting of the atom in 1917, to the in the region. The presence of these companies everything from enrichment to fuel isolation of graphene in 2004, the North of England in turn creates more commercial opportunities manufacture, fuel processing, waste management has always been at the forefront of science and across the supply chain. and decommissioning, all operated by global leaders Fuel Production technology. And this combination of pioneering such as URENCO and Westinghouse. spirit, bold ingenuity and manufacturing know-how New Nuclear is still evident in the region’s dynamic and growing The region’s development of fuel designs, Development Plant “The Northern Powerhouse Operational civil nuclear power sector. improvement of spent fuel processes and creation Support has strong ties to the UK of advanced fuels for new reactors are vital for In fact, the world’s very first civil nuclear civil nuclear heritage. From the continued security of the UK’s nuclear power programme began in the Northern Powerhouse, supply, and have led to companies from within the marked by the opening of Calder Hall , we are central to Northern Powerhouse adopting a global advisory close to Sellafield in West , in 1956. Decommissioning Plant Life role so that this expertise can be shared worldwide. Extension and Nowhere else in the world can boast the civil many of our clients and key Long Term Meanwhile, companies investing here benefit from Operation nuclear history of the Northern Powerhouse. stakeholders, and our office in the connectivity and transport links provided in the And the lessons learnt from our pioneering Waste Northern Powerhouse, as well as the unrivalled Management programmes – and developments since – are what Westlakes, near , diversity of sites within the region that allow specialist make us both world leaders and the epicentre of services some of our flagship companies to collaborate with maximum efficiency. the UK’s expertise. Today, the Northern Powerhouse is using all this experience and expertise to make projects for key customers nuclear power safer, more efficient and more purposeful in a fast-changing world. The extensive such as Sellafield Ltd, the Low history in nuclear has led to a deep and broad Level Waste Repository and the supply chain being established in the Northern Westinghouse Nuclear URENCO Powerhouse. Many major companies including National Nuclear Laboratory.” Amec Foster Wheeler, Jacobs Engineering, Atkins, Keith Collett, Nuvia CEO Meeting the UK’s nuclear World-leading fuel requirements uranium enrichment

Westinghouse is a US company with a long URENCO, founded in the UK history in the Northern Powerhouse. Their in 1970, uses world-leading Nuvia fuel manufacturing site has the centrifuge technology to provide Providing a complete range of nuclear services advanced technology to generate fuel for all the uranium enrichment services major designs of nuclear reactors worldwide needed by nuclear customers Nuvia’s heritage dates back to the beginning radiological protection and various enabling – and most of the fuel requirements for the worldwide to generate low carbon of the UK nuclear industry, and today products. Clients range from commercial UK’s nuclear power stations are met by this nuclear energy. This pivotal area provides essential nuclear services to organisations, to government bodies and facility. Springfields main activities involve the of the fuel supply chain culminates a range of Northern Powerhouse, UK-wide international agencies. This diverse work manufacture of oxide fuels, uranium recovery in the sustainable of and international clients. is made possible due to the advantageous services and the decommissioning and electricity for consumers across Northern Powerhouse ecosystem, a robust demolition of redundant plants and buildings. the UK and around the world. The company employs around 1000 people, supply chain and a far-reaching network of with capabilities covering the full project resources, including Europe’s largest private- www.westinghousenuclear.com www.urenco.com lifecycle: engineering, procurement and sector health physics team. construction (EPC), programme management, consultancy, operations, decommissioning, www.nuvia.co.uk 8 great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse 9

World leaders in 1 decommissioning Nuclear power stations in the UK Existing nuclear power stations Decommissioning sites

1. Hunterston B Power Station 1. As the first country to employ civil nuclear energy, 2. Torness Power Station 2. Hunterston A Power Station it’s hardly surprising that the UK leads the world in 3. Hartlepool Power Station 3. Chapelcross Power Station the decommissioning process. And the Northern 4. Heysham 1 & 2 Power Stations 2 5. Hinkley Point B Power Station 4. Sellafield (Decommissioning) 1 Powerhouse leads them both: Sellafield, West 2 6. Dungeness B Power Station 5. Low Level Waste Repository 7. Sizewell B Power Station Cumbria, is the home of UK decommissioning 6. Wylfa Power Station capability and a centre of excellence recognised 3 2 7. Springfields 3 worldwide; and the 5 Fuel plant 8. (Decommissioning) 4 Authority (NDA), located in Cumbria, is responsible 9. Trawsfynydd Power Station 4 for a budget of approx. £3 billion annually – 1. Sellafield (Fuel Fabrication) 1 2. Springfields (Fuel Manufacturing) 10. Berkeley Power Station 2 7 3 6 setting the overall UK decommissioning strategy. 3. Capenhurst (Fuel Manufacturing) 11. Oldbury Power Station 3 8

12. Sizewell A Power Station 9 6 Sellafield Ltd is the organisation responsible for 13. Bradwell Power Station Proposed new build sites 12 7 the safe operation and clean-up of the Sellafield 14. Dungeness A Power Station 1. Bradwell Power Station 10 1 13 site on behalf of the NDA. Sellafield itself is the 15. Harwell 4 2. Moorside Power Station 11 largest nuclear complex in Western Europe, 3. Wylfa Newydd Power Station 16. 15 5 5 17 14 delivering a nationally important mission – to 4. Oldbury Power Station 17. Hinkley Point A Power Station 6 5. Hinkley Point C Power Station ensure the safety and security of the UK’s nuclear 16 6. Sizewell C Power Station legacy and progressively decommission some of the world’s oldest facilities. Covering just two square miles, the Sellafield site is home to more than 200 nuclear facilities and employs more than 10,000 people – and thousands more within the supply chain. On behalf of the UK Government and taxpayers, Sellafield Ltd’s objectives are to progress Calder Hall decommissioning and clean-up, deliver high hazard The world’s first power plant that’s now 50% fuel free reduction and encourage high standards in health, £3billion safety, security, and environmental performance. With an annual budget of around £2 billion and UK decommissioning The painstaking task of removing tens Glyn Thomas, Sellafield Ltd’s head of Calder a work plan for the next 100 years, Sellafield Ltd market per annum, with of thousands of fuel rods from the world’s Hall, said: “The programme is going really drives operational excellence, innovation and £2bn spent at Sellafield first nuclear power station is halfway to well with a gradual but sustained acceleration collaboration models for the whole nuclear industry. completion. Workers at Sellafield’s Calder in defuelling rates since we began in 2011. Hall, West Cumbria, have now finished Decommissioning is an ever growing discipline unloading fuel from the second of its “We have two more reactors to empty before – and of paramount importance as increasing four reactors, leaving two left to empty. our target completion date of 2019. This will numbers of older reactors go offline in the UK and allow time for the fuel to be reprocessed in worldwide. Being chosen as a supplier to Sellafield The defuelling programme began in 2011 the Reprocessing plant, which will Ltd enables companies to not only enjoy being part and is scheduled for completion in 2019. complete its operations in 2020. of a significant market and a world-class ecosystem, Once finished, this will allow the station but to also gain the international credibility that can to be fully decommissioned. “Our success is down to the hard work open access to projects both locally and overseas. of the team at Calder Hall and those in These opportunities are increasingly lucrative, Calder Hall began powering homes and the supporting areas of the Sellafield site. with the global decommissioning market estimated businesses with carbon-free electricity in 1956, I’d like to say a big thank you to them all.” to be worth £50 billion per annum by 2020, with the year it was opened by the Queen. It closed between 82 and 145 reactors retired by 2030 in 2003, following 47 years of safe operations www.sellafieldsites.com (mostly within Europe). – 27 years longer than was originally planned. 10 great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse 11

The centre of British new-build NuGen There is a growing UK and worldwide demand Investors in the Northern Powerhouse will for energy that’s low carbon, reliable and cost- also be ideally positioned to service some of the A new-build project to safeguard the UK’s energy security effective. And so today, 60 years after the Northern numerous international projects in the pipeline. Powerhouse built the world’s first civil nuclear plant, Worldwide investment in new nuclear is set to hit NuGen is a UK nuclear joint venture between thousand jobs over the lifetime of the project we witness a renaissance in the building of civil a staggering £930 billion over the next 20 years, Toshiba and . NuGen’s Moorside and sustaining over 1,000 jobs during an nuclear power plants. ensuring a growing demand for the engineering Project aims to develop a new generation operational life of 60+ years. services, hardware and skills at which the nuclear power station that will generate up Industry has set out proposals to develop 18GW Northern Powerhouse excels. to 3.8GW of low-carbon electricity from a NuGen wants this inspirational project of new nuclear power at six sites in the UK, across sustainable source. Located in West Cumbria, to benefit the entire region – creating jobs, England and North Wales, where Horizon Nuclear , Moorside will generate developing infrastructure in the region Power, owned by Japan’s Hitachi Ltd, proposes to “The UK is ideally placed enough electricity to power more than 6 and delivering economic security for build 2 ABWR reactors at Wylfa. An ambitious next- to assist and advise nations million homes – equivalent to 7% of the UK’s thousands of people. generation power station is planned at Moorside, electricity requirements. West Cumbria, creating opportunities directly in the looking to responsibly www..com Northern Powerhouse, but the connectivity we have develop new civil nuclear NuGen plans to build three Westinghouse- will allow all new-build projects to take advantage of designed AP1000® nuclear power plants “We are working closely the specialist expertise and capabilities provided by power programmes.” with the first scheduled to come online in the mid-2020s. with Government to take companies in the region. Tom Greatrex, Nuclear Industry Association West Cumbria is the UK’s nuclear heartland Moorside forward, which with over 70-years’ experience in nuclear – will be Europe’s largest more than one-third of the UK’s civil nuclear sector is based in the region. new nuclear power station. The project will be Moorside will be the largest ever private sector investment in the region and will bring transformational – it will a major socio-economic boost, creating 14-21 become the engine of the Northern Powerhouse.”  NuGen CEO, Tom Samson 12 great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse 13

Outokumpu Providing high performance for the nuclear sector

Part of the global Outokumpu group, OSD is working to supply material for Sheffield-based Outokumpu Stainless Moorside Nuclear New Build in West Distribution (OSD) is the UK service centre Cumbria, and the team are at advanced for stainless steel plate, sheet and coil stage with a number of potential enquiries products. The company provides high- and new customers linked to Hinkley Point. performance steel products for a variety of sectors, and has a long history supplying www.outokumpu.com the nuclear decommissioning market. The company has already provided steel for “Being part of the waste and one-off projects such as Sellafield’s six new pile fuel cladding silo doors – each weighing decommissioning supply over 12 – and for higher-volume products such as intermediate level waste chain means we’re used to containers. They also have international working with high levels of expertise, with the group supplying nuclear new-build projects around the world including control over the traceability Darchem Engineering France, China and the US. and integrity of the steels To prepare for UK new-build opportunities, Supplying to Sellafield and Hinkley Point the OSD team entered the Nuclear AMRC’s we produce…when it comes Fit For Nuclear programme in summer 2015. to building nuclear power Darchem Engineering, based in the North East of England, “I am delighted to is a subsidiary of US company Esterline Technologies stations in the UK, we saw Corporation. The company has been awarded an see our long-term it as a market to be in.” approximate £100 million contract to supply and install commitment to the  stainless steel liners for reactor, fuel pool and other Simon Marsden, Commercial Manager, Outokumpu smaller tanks and sumps at the new Hinkley Point C UK nuclear industry power station, along with reflective metal insulation – where Darchem is a leading global supplier, with their is being recognised equipment fitted to over 170 nuclear plants — and in our selection as the various other specialist fabrications. preferred bidder for This recognition follows on from a £50 million contract Hinkley. This contract awarded in 2015 to manufacture over 1,000 specialist intermediate-level nuclear waste storage containers will enable Darchem at Sellafield. Parent-company Esterline has long to expand its already appreciated the potential that Darchem has within the Nuclear Industry and, recognising the skills and expertise significant apprentice contained within the company, financed the construction programme.” of a new purpose built £8 million factory to help them  realise their ambitions. Billy Meijer, Managing Director, Darchem

www.darchem.co.uk 14 great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse 15 23

Universities in the Northern Research capability independent testing facilities for all aspects of Powerhouse – training more Nowhere else in the UK has the Northern radioactivity analysis. The laboratories also include STEM graduates than rest Powerhouse’s breadth and depth of research an open access, high-temperature facility (HTF) for of country combined experience. World-leading universities and testing materials used in current and future nuclear laboratories, such as Manchester’s Dalton Institute, reactors that can include small modular reactors and provide the postgraduate research and innovation Generation IV systems. The HTF is a partnership that that help keep the Northern Powerhouse at the includes NNL, EDF Energy, URENCO, the Universities cutting-edge of nuclear developments, but nuclear of Manchester, Bristol and Oxford, the Open research in the region is by no means confined to University and Imperial College . the university sector. The UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) operates state of the art, world- The diversity of institutions and facilities within leading research facilities that would cost at least the region combines to create a vibrant and £1.5 billion to replicate, and which are capable of dynamic research community made up of scientists handling uranium, , spent fuel and highly and engineers from the national lab, academia and active waste, amongst other nuclear materials. industry. Businesses all benefit from this thriving research excellence and talent pipeline, and new Amec Foster Wheeler’s Nuclear Analytical research and innovation centres continue to Services laboratory is Europe’s largest commercial choose the Northern Powerhouse as their radiochemical analysis laboratory and provides location of choice.

Civil nuclear Aberdeen The right skills R&D within UK

A world-class nuclear industry requires the right University sector Universities Dundee combination of vocational skills, theoretical A large number of Northern Powerhouse understanding, engineering and advanced research. universities provide specific nuclear science This map shows that, when Edinburgh Strathclyde The Northern Powerhouse is one of the few places and technology education leading to graduate it comes to academic staff that supplies it all, ensuring investors to the region and postgraduate qualifications. The list is long undertaking civil nuclear R&D, SUERC can source the skills they really need. and extensive but includes the universities of the Northern Powerhouse has Cumbria, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield a depth and breadth of research Durham Vocational training and Manchester. capability you won’t find anywhere else in the UK. Specialist nuclear apprenticeships, vocational Queen’s University, Lancaster Belfast colleges and undergraduate courses ensure a York pipeline of the right skills to service the sector. “Our Warrington Head Leeds UCLAN Office grants us access to Huddersfield The existing capability will soon be boosted by Liverpool Sheffield The National College for Nuclear, opening to some of the best technical Manchester provide training programmes across the skill base. talent in the industry… Loughborough UEA Birmingham the local education Cambridge Warwick The OU institutions are actively UCL Oxford Imperial working in partnership Cardiff Reading

Surrey with industry to produce Bristol Kingston Bath Sussex graduates and apprentices Portsmouth of exceptional quality.” Source: HMG report: ‘A Review of the Keith Collett, Nuvia CEO Civil Nuclear R&D Landscape in the UK’ 16 great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse 17

The National College Joint Research for Nuclear and Innovation Delivering the specialist skills Centre for the UK’s nuclear revolution The flagship National College for Nuclear (NCfN) A pioneering forms a cornerstone of the UK Government’s collaboration between response to growing developments and concerns in the world of energy. It’s a strategic partnership the UK and China between industry, national regulators, skills bodies and training providers, revolutionising The UK-China Nuclear Joint Research the way training for the nuclear sector is delivered and Innovation Centre (JRIC) was while ensuring the UK maintains its global announced in 2015 as a jointly-funded reputation for quality, safe and reliable civil collaboration to develop innovative and defence operations. nuclear technologies, facilitate Opportunities in the world-leading research projects and strengthen UK-China relations. The UK “It’s expected the nuclear industry and China have jointly committed £50 will need 30,000 new employees Northern Powerhouse million to the Centre over a five-year period. The project is being led on behalf over the next decade – and the The Northern Powerhouse is a global hub of The offers the supportive of the respective governments by the Nuclear College will equip young commerce, science, technology, entrepreneurship and environment that investors need; at 20%, UK National Nuclear Laboratory and innovation, with over one million businesses located our headline tax rate is the lowest in the G7 the China National Nuclear Corporation. people with the skills they need.” here and attracting thriving international investment. and joint lowest in the G20. We enjoy a worldwide Matt Hancock, MP, Former Minister for Business Foreign Direct Investment levels are growing at twice reputation for the fairness of our regulatory The Centre, which will be based in the rate of the rest of the UK, due in no small part to system, and our employment environment the North West, is also set to play an the region’s universities, which undertake some of is flexible, open, and business friendly. important role connecting companies When it opens in late 2017, the state-of-the-art the most cutting-edge research in the world. and universities within the Northern college will boast a collaborative campus, virtual Powerhouse with the rest of the UK. reality centre – including virtual laboratories and The region is home to seven international airports This unique collaboration will establish virtual engineering suites – radiation and chemistry flying directly to254 destinations worldwide; a partnership with the UK and Chinese laboratories, computer-equipped training rooms and 20% there are 12 major ports; a high-speed train nuclear energy sector to deliver a flexible learning/event space. It is estimated 7,000 network (including the forthcoming of HS2 link) beneficial R&D projects on a number learners will have accessed the college by 2020. UK headline tax rate, lowest of G7 nations that connects the North efficiently with London of different areas of work across the and the South East; and modern, reliable intercity entire fuel cycle. www.ncfn.ac.uk links across the Northern Powerhouse. It is clear that this is a place where businesses and industry prosper and there are many opportunities “The JRIC will allow to set up a nuclear business here. more cooperation in 7 Our network of UK specialists includes a team who scientific research, are based in the North of England, ensuring expert International airports within local insight into projects, local government and technology, and the Northern Powerhouse businesses can be quickly and reliably provided. throughout the whole We look forward to working with you and But it’s not only persuasive facts that make showcasing the Northern Powerhouse. nuclear industrial chain.” people want to do business here. From the Qian Zhimin, China National Nuclear Corporation renowned beauty of the Lake District to the For further details or to discuss the potential world’s most famous football teams, the for an initial meeting, please email: North of England is recognised, admired [email protected] and visited by people from all over the world. 18 great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse great.gov.uk | Nuclear in the Northern Powerhouse 19

5 reasons to invest in the Northern Powerhouse

1. A world-class specialist cluster Join hundreds of successful nuclear companies already enjoying the benefits of a specialist ecosystem. 2. High-level skills and experience Benefit from a wealth of universities and colleges working closely with industry to supply the right depth and breadth of skills. 3. Full fuel cycle capabilities Choose the only region in Europe offering full capabilities for more efficient supply chains and operations. 4. A growing UK market Be part of the UK nuclear industry as it goes from strength to strength over the coming years. Civil nuclear 5. Support for investment in the Northern Get started with global support, tailored advice and a wide range of initiatives designed to makes investing in the Northern Powerhouse simple. Powerhouse Cumbria

Moorside Hartlepool Discover how to invest in NCN, Cumbria Existing nuclear NNL, Cumbria the Northern Powerhouse’s power stations Sellafield Nuclear assets world-leading nuclear sector Heysham 1 & 2 Leeds Universities Lancaster with courses in at [email protected] Westinghouse, Springfields nuclear science NAMRC, Rotherham and technology Manchester Sheffield Wylfa ONR, Bootle JRIC, Manchester Liverpool NNL, Birchwood

Urenco, Capenhurst great.gov.uk

DIT The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) has overall responsibility for promoting UK trade across the world and attracting foreign investment to our economy. We are a specialised government body with responsibility for negotiating international trade policy, supporting business, as well as delivering an outward-looking trade diplomacy strategy

Disclaimer Whereas every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this document is accurate the Department for International Trade does not accept liability for any errors, omissions or misleading statements, and no warranty is given or responsibility accepted as to the standing of any individual, firm, company or other organisation mentioned.

@Crown Copyright 2017 You may re-use this publication (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence visit: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence or email: [email protected]. Where we have identified any third party copyright information in the material that you wish to use, you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holder(s) concerned.

This document is also available on our website atgov.uk/dit Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at [email protected].

Published February 2017 by Department for International Trade.

Image credits: Front cover: Sellafield, Page 2: NNL, Page 4: AMRC, Page 8: AMRC, Page 10: Sellafield, Page 12: Sellafield, Page 14: NNL, Page 17: Amec Foster Wheeler, Page 19: AMRC.