The Technology Strategy Board has announced funding for twenty feasibility studies that aim to stimulate advances in civil nuclear power generation technology.
The studies will address a wide range of problems, from non-destructive testing, waste handling and condition monitoring, to materials modelling, advanced manufacture and maintenance technologies and construction methods.
All the studies, which will last between 6 and 12 months, are industry led, many having small companies as the project leader or a major contributor. The studies are intended to assist in developing technologies to support the civil nuclear industry, while strengthening the supply chain.
Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, said that many of the applications for funding were made by small companies currently working in other sectors. “We see the transfer of innovative technologies from other sectors and support for SMEs, working with major companies in the civil nuclear sector, as essential in developing and sustaining the strongest possible UK supply chain.”
The global market for new nuclear power installations is predicted to increase over the next 20 years to around £600 billion, while decommissioning, waste treatment and disposal will be worth a further £250 billion.
The funding follows the publication earlier this year of a review commissioned by the Technology Strategy Board of the UK’s nuclear R&D capability. This concluded there were a number of areas which, with suitable support and development, could be significant. The review highlighted, in particular, the latent potential within UK SMEs to encourage innovation in the civil nuclear sector by transferring skills and technology to, and from, larger companies in a number of key underpinning areas.
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