The North West Nuclear Arc Science and Innovation Audit A Science and Innovation Audit Report sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. 2018 FOREWORD Dame Sue Ion The nuclear sector in the UK faces a period of unprecedented change. While Government still sees Dame Sue Ion has over 30 years’ nuclear energy as part of a balanced energy mix, and experience in the nuclear sector in a the new build project at Hinkley is proceeding, the wide variety of roles, and has acted recent developments at Wylfa Newydd and Moorside as an expert advisor to Government illustrate the huge challenges still faced by the sector. on all aspects of nuclear energy. She There is no intrinsic reason why nuclear projects should is a Fellow of the Royal Academy be late and over budget, but they often are and, as of Engineering and a Fellow of the renewables become increasingly competitive and tough Royal Society. She resides in the questions about the cost of dealing with our nuclear North West Nuclear Arc. legacy are asked, the sector needs to respond. There is an appetite for change among all nuclear stakeholders, but it is not yet clear what form this change might take, or how radical this change could be. In these circumstances this Science and Innovation Audit of the Northwest Nuclear Arc is very timely. It highlights the globally significant science and innovation assets in the area, with world-class research facilities and internationally renowned organisations, and identifies the major economic contribution the nuclear industry makes. It also shows how the whole could be so much more than the present sum of the parts, with particular positive impact in disadvantaged, predominantly rural areas, if we can integrate the individual elements more effectively, drive cultural and organisational changes across the sector, and find new ways to develop the skills we need. These are unique challenges, but the Northwest Nuclear Arc, with its emphasis on innovation and cross sector leverage across all aspects of the nuclear landscape, is uniquely placed to meet them. 2 CONTENTS A Science and Innovation Audit Report sponsored by the Department for Business 1. Introduction 2. Global Nuclear Energy Market 1. UK Nuclear Industry 2. The National Importance of the North West Nuclear Arc 3. Civil Nuclear Reactor Technologies 4. New Build 5. Small Modular Reactors 6. Decommissioning and Clean Up 3. The North West Nuclear Arc Audit 1. Physical Assets 2. Innovation Assets 3. Skills 4. Knowledge Base 5. Business Environment 4. Conclusions 5. Recommendations These Science and Innovation Audits are a BEIS-sponsored initiative but the reports and recommendations are those of the Consortia. 3 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ADRIANA Advanced Digital Radiometric LEP Local Enterprise Partnership Instrumentation for Applied Nuclear LLW Low Level Waste Activities, Lancaster University LLWR Low Level Waste Repository ABWR Advanced Boiling Water Reactor LWR Light Water Reactor AGR Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor MIAMI Microscopes and Ion Accelerators for AGT European Working Group Materials Investigation, University of AMR Advanced Modular Reactor Huddersfield AP1000 Type of Nuclear Reactor, pressurised water MIDAS Materials for Innovative Disposition from reactor Advanced Separations, University of APR Advanced Pressurised Reactor Sheffield AWE Atomic Weapons Establishment MRL Manufacturing Readiness Level BECBC Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster MTRL Manufacturing Technology Research BEIS Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, Laboratory Government Department MW MegaWatt BNFL British Nuclear Fuels Ltd NAMRC Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research CEA Commission for Atomic Energy and Centre Alternative Energies NAO National Audit Office CEGB Central Electricity Generating Board NERC Natural Environment Research Council CDT Centre for Doctoral Training NCfN National College for Nuclear CNNC China National Nuclear Corporation NDA Nuclear Decommissioning Authority CoNE Centre of Nuclear Expertise NIBC National Ion Beam Centre CPD Continuous Professional Development NIC Nuclear Industry Council CRR Centre for Radiochemistry Research, NIP Nuclear Innovation Programme University of Manchester NIRAB Nuclear Innovation and Research Advisory DECC Department for Energy and Climate Change Board DCF Dalton Cumbrian Facility, University of NIRO Nuclear Innovation and Research Office Manchester NNC National Nuclear Corporation DCU Decommissioning and Clean Up NNL National Nuclear Laboratory EA Environmental Agency NNUF National Nuclear Users Facility EFR European Fast Reactor NNUMAN New Nuclear MANufacturing (EPSRC ENSREG European Nuclear Safety Regulators Programme Grant) Association NTEC Nuclear Technology Education Consortium ENSTTI European Nuclear Safety Training and NSAN National Skills Academy for Nuclear Tutoring Institute NSSG Nuclear Skills Strategy Group EPR European Pressurised Water Reactor NWNF North West Nuclear Forum EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research NWNA North West Nuclear Arc Council OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation ESNII European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial and Development Initiative ONR Office of Nuclear Regulation EURATOM European Atomic Energy Community PWR Pressurised Water Reactor FOAK First-Of-A-Kind R&D Research and Development FE Further Education RD&I Research, Development and Innovation FID Final Investment Decision SETC Skills and Education Task Force FRCG Fast Reactor Consultants Group SIA Science and Innovation Audit FTEs Full Time Equivalents SME Small to Medium Enterprise GDA Generic Design Assessment SMR Small Modular Reactor GDF Geological Disposal Facility STFC Science and Technology Facilities Council GIF Generation IV International Forum TRL Technology Readiness Level GVA Generic Value Added TW TeraWatt GW GigaWatt UKAEA United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority HE Higher Education UKRI UK Research and Innovation HEIs Higher Education Institutions UTC University Technical College HERCA Heads of the European Radiological UTGARD Uranium/Thorium beta/Gamma Active R&D Protection Competence Authorities Lab (at Lancaster University) HLS High Level Skills WEO World Energy Outlook IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency WENRA Western European Nuclear Regulators IFNEC International Framework for Nuclear Association Energy Cooperation WNF Wales Nuclear Forum ITU Institute for Transuranium Elements, Karlsruhe (now Joint Research Centre) 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Overview & Context In Autumn 2015 the UK Government announced regional Science and Innovation Audits (SIAs) to catalyse a new approach to regional economic development. SIAs enable local consortia to focus on analysing regional strengths and identify mechanisms to realise their potential. In the North West of England and North Wales, a consortium was formed in 2017 to focus on our strength in the Nuclear Sector. This report presents the results which includes broad-ranging analysis of the North West Nuclear Arc’s (NWNA) capabilities, the challenges and the substantial opportunities for future economic growth. The future success of the [nuclear] industry is central to achieving the Clean Growth Grand Challenge set out in the Industrial Strategy; to maximise the advantages for UK industries of the global shift to cleaner forms of economic growth. The UK nuclear sector, with its historical strength and skilled workforce across the country, is well-placed to capture that opportunity. June 2018, the Nuclear Sector Deal. The World Energy Outlook1 projects that global energy demand will rise by 30% between today and 2040. Based on the ‘Sustainable Development Scenario’, with power generation all but decarbonised, nuclear power use is predicted to grow up to 15%, an increase of nearly 5%. Nuclear power will continue to be a key part of the Government’s commitment to Clean Growth, one of four Grand Challenges in the Industrial Strategy. The Government seeks to enhance the UK’s nuclear commercial base and global market share. The NWNA consortium comprises Bangor University, Welsh Government, the Dalton Institute (University of Manchester) and the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). The focus of the SIA is on the strengths and capabilities of civil nuclear energy, in NW England and North Wales, with an easterly extension to take in Sheffield and Leeds. The vision is that it is possible to re-engineer the nuclear sector, driving 30% reductions in cost and time, without compromising safety and security,2 and that the NWNA is uniquely positioned to maximise the opportunity for the UK. The view in the NWNA is that it can bring about lasting economic benefits and prosperity through innovation in the sector, working in partnership with Industry, academia, regional government and local communities to transform the UK‘s nuclear industrial capability and enhance its global presence. 1http://www.iea.org/Textbase/npsum/weo2017SUM.pdf 2https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/665473/The_Nuclear_Sector_ Deal_171206.pdf 5 The Audit People & Skills The results of the SIA show that nowhere Nowhere else in Europe is so much nuclear else in Europe is so much nuclear expertise expertise so concentrated, with unparalleled so concentrated, with unparalleled access to access to a world-renowned skills base and a world-renowned skills base and pioneering pioneering expertise in nuclear research and expertise in nuclear research and development. development. However, the workforce is ageing, The NWNA is one of few regions in the world and the