The UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is investing £30m to drive research and innovation across the sector.
NDA is awarding contracts to pioneer new methods to facilitate safe, sustainable and economical nuclear decommissioning.
The initiative is part of the UK’s wider target of cleaning up the country’s oldest nuclear energy sites.
These nuclear power projects were developed without decommissioning in mind, creating challenges that require innovative technological solutions.
The NDA funding aims to solve these technical problems effectively and efficiently, saving costs in the process.
Kate Canning, Head of R&D at the NDA, explained: “We are delighted with the high quality of the submissions received, including from many new organisations alongside those established in the nuclear sector.
“It’s an exciting time for the nuclear industry, and we believe the range of organisations involved in the frameworks will provide a diverse range of experience and knowledge to deliver innovative research that supports the delivery of the NDA mission.”
Advancing innovation and skills in nuclear decommissioning
Annually, the NDA invests £100m into Research & Development (R&D) as part of its decommissioning programme.
The NDA Research Portfolio (NRP) competition plays a crucial role in the strategic research agenda. By directly funding research, the NRP supports the NDA’s key objectives, including fostering innovation across multiple sites and developing a diverse skill set within the supply chain.
Focus areas of the contracts
The newly awarded contracts, spanning four years, replace the previous Direct Research Portfolio (DRP) from 2020. These contracts focus on three key areas:
- University Interactions: Enhancing academic research to build skills in the nuclear decommissioning sector.
- Enabling Decommissioning, Waste Management, and Remediation: Supporting research on radioactive waste management and advanced decommissioning techniques.
- Spent Fuels and Nuclear Material: Facilitating research on spent fuel storage, disposal, and strategic development for plutonium and uranics.
Collaboration across sectors
The seven successful consortia involve over 60 organisations, including established nuclear companies, global cross-sector corporations, UK universities, national laboratories, and small to medium-sized enterprises.
This collaboration is expected to bring a wealth of experience and innovative solutions to the industry.
Building on past successes
Previous NRP achievements include developing new treatment technologies for uranic materials and a non-contact asbestos detection system using hyperspectral techniques. These innovations have significantly contributed to the NDA’s decommissioning efforts.
Aligned with the NDA’s University Research Strategy, the NRP also addresses broader R&D needs identified by the Nuclear Waste and Decommissioning Research Forum (NWDRF).
This group aims to enhance the coordination of R&D and technical programmes across the UK’s site decommissioning, remediation, and integrated waste management activities.
