Industry Link - December 2017

MAGAZINE OF THE UK NUCLEAR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION WINTER / 2017

NIAUK.ORG

12 Kick off at Hinkley Point C READY FOR DIGITAL 20 DISRUPTION? Saving time 16 and money on Bradwell FED ECONOMIC VALUE 2 OF NUCLEAR

Innovation Delivered

At the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory, we deliver the right amount of innovation to meet our customers’ needs.

On one level, we might simply drill a hole to analyse underground waste with our integrated microdrilling technology.

At the other extreme, we are developing state-of-the-art power systems to support deep space exploration.

Find out more about what we can do for you at www.nnl.co.uk or email customers@nnl.co.uk B — WINTER | 2017

Welcome to IndustryLink

Rupert Lewis rupert.lewis@niauk.org

Winter and the end of the year always brings with it endless annual reviews. It’s pretty difficult to summarise this year in a few words, but all I can say is that 2017 has been in an almost permanent state of flux.

The general election threw the political cards up in the air and the government hasn’t quite recovered. The Brexit solution is no clearer and the decision to withdraw from Euratom has undoubtedly muddied the waters for the nuclear sector.

But, all that being said, the nuclear industry is still in the minds of decision makers and there is much to look forward to in 2018. Hinkley Point C is gathering momentum, nuclear continues to churn out electricity for millions of homes and the government’s industrial strategy could help secure the future of the industry for at least another generation.

In this edition we focus on decommissioning with articles from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Hargreaves Ductwork Ltd and Tradebe Inutec.

Jay Ferriday asks whether or not the industry is ready for the impending digital disruption, a new business groups section looks at new build, decommissioning and the international scene, and Fiona Rayment outlines the skills challenge.

And when you turn the page, you’ll see the impressive findings from the NIA’s Activity Report. If ever there was an argument about why the industry has a strong future, this is it.

For those of you at Nuclear 2017, enjoy the conference, and the Annual Nuclear Dinner, and lets look forward to a productive 2018!

IN THIS ISSUE...

MEETING THE PAGE 18 NUCLEAR SKILLS CHALLENGE

IN VIEW

OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW PAGE 8

PAGE 14

PAGE 22

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND

NIAUK.ORG Follow us: @NIAUK

Editor - Rupert Lewis Art Editor - Dan Powney Contributors - Sara Crane, Peter Haslam, Shayne Halfpenny-Ray, Jay Ferriday, Stephanie McKenna, Deborah Ward – NDA, Mark Simpson – Hargreaves Ductwork Ltd, Dr Fiona Rayment – Nuclear Skills Strategy Group, Tim Dowling – Tradebe Inutec, Gareth Davies – Chair, International Group, Tristram Denton – Chair, New Build Group, with additional thanks to World Nuclear News

Nuclear Industry Association is a company limited by guarantee registered in England No. 2804518 Registered Office 5th Floor Tower House 10 Southampton Street London WC2E 7HA TEL +44(0)20 7766 6640 EMAIL info@niauk.org

Press Enquiries Sara.Crane@niauk.org TEL 07803 696 786 Advertisement Enquiries Rupert.Lewis@niauk.org 020 7766 6642

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Membership Enquiries Stephanie.McKenna@niauk.org 020 7766 6651

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Cover image: Cleaning the southern gallery at the Hinkley Point C site courtesy of EDF Energy This magazine is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, using vegetable based inks.

Economic value of nuclear BY. SARA CRANE

THE NUCLEAR SECTOR SUPPORTS 155,000 DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS

NUCLEAR SUPPORTS £1 IN EVERY £50 OF ECONOMIC OUTPUT IN THE NORTH WEST AND SOUTH WEST 2 — WINTER | 2017

TAX REVENUES TOTALLING ALMOST £4.5 BILLION WERE CONTRIBUTED TO THE EXCHEQUER

Total impact of the civil nuclear sector, 2016 (Source: NIA, ONS, Oxford Economics)

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eople are quick to dismiss the nuclear sector as out of date and yesterday’s technology, but a new report from the NIA dispels those myths.

Most of the people reading this magazine will work in the nuclear sector and have some understanding of the vital economic role it plays in the communities where it is embedded.

It is an argument we have used for many years when making the case for nuclear, backed up by the information we gather through our Jobs Map publication and the socio-economic data we receive from sites.

However, for the first time, we have completed an exciting new piece of work which pulls all this information together into a clear and concise report – The Nuclear Activity Report.

This information will be vital as we look to create a nuclear sector deal and highlight the important role nuclear can play in the government’s vision for

an industrial strategy, which reaches all parts of the UK. Independent research conducted by Oxford Economics on behalf of the NIA shows the nuclear sector contributed £6.4 billion to the UK economy in 2016 – equivalent to the output of the aerospace manufacturing industry – and 0.3% of the UK’s entire GDP in the year.

This itself is impressive enough, but it almost doubles to £12.4 billion when the impact of our spend on associated goods and services through the supply chain is considered as well as the wage spend by employees.

And the wages paid in our sector far exceed the UK average salary ref lecting the specialised skills needed in our industry. This has an additional impact on the economy, as employees pay for housing and utilities as well as spending in their local economies.

This contribution to a local consumer economy, as well as the associated supply chain and direct nuclear

employees, means 154,600 jobs across the UK are in some way supported by the civil nuclear sector’s activities.

It highlights the network of specialist supply chains, but also the billions of pounds spent with other industries, providing the clearest indication we have of the spread and impact of our sector, which reaches all regions.

Unsurprisingly, the largest impact is felt in the north west and the south west, where civil nuclear activities supported £1 in every £50 of economic output in these regions.

The north west sees the largest regional impact with some £4.3 billion in gross value added in the region as well as supporting 57,400 direct and indirect jobs – expected when you consider it is home to Sellafield and its associated supply chain, National Nuclear Laboratory, Springfields and EDF Energy’s Heysham Power Station among others.

While the report focuses on this vital contribution, it also puts this

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into context, by looking at the output and progress from the sector in 2016.

More than a fifth (21%) of the UK’s electricity was generated by nuclear power stations in the year. This helped to avoid the equivalent of 22.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide – the same as taking a third of cars off UK roads.

One of the major achievements in 2016, was the final investment decision and start of construction at Hinkley Point C – the first new nuclear power station in a generation.

Not only will its construction support around 25,000 job opportunities, but 64% of the construction value will be spent with the UK supply chain, helping to boost capability and competitiveness of

these businesses and securing jobs and prosperity in the region.

As well as winning work in new build, UK firms are a vital part of the existing operation and decommissioning supply chains.

This activity has also enticed companies to diversify their businesses and look at how they can build capacity to win work in the nuclear sector, through undertaking the Fit For Nuclear programme. This will help strengthen the UK’s supply chain capability and win work both at home and overseas.

We are already competing internationally, providing expertise and innovation in Japan to Fukushima, and

are playing a vital role in the ITER fusion project in France.

As we look at future technologies, UK firms have the potential to benefit from the f ledgling small modular reactor programme, which will provide high value jobs and a strong manufacturing legacy.

We have a unique nuclear history, supporting jobs from across the whole of the nuclear lifecycle and contributing our skills and experience on projects overseas. This is rightly something nuclear sector employees are hugely proud of, now, with the help of this report, we can bring this to the attention of a wider group of people, and start to dispel those myths.

NORTH WEST SEES THE CIVIL NUCLEAR SECTOR’S LARGEST REGIONAL GVA IMPACT (£m)

1,025 484

122

4,324 433

IN 2016, EACH WORKER CONTRIBUTED AN AVERAGE OF £96,600 IN GVA TO THE ECONOMY 4 — WINTER | 2017

434

834 534

692

675

1,622

1,219

Why facts are still important

MEDIA WATCH NEWS

BY. RUPERT LEWIS

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published the independent review undertaken by Professor Dieter Helm CBE looking at ways to reduce costs of electricity whilst also meeting carbon reduction targets.

Commenting on the review, Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the NIA, said: “This review provides an interesting analysis of how to meet emission targets, secure the energy supply as current generation capacity nears retirement, while highlighting the complexity of energy policy in the UK.” Tom also highlighted the need for a diverse energy mix saying, “As the distinction between energy and electricity diminishes, we’ll need a mix of low carbon power to meet our decarbonisation and security of supply objectives. That is why policy should be informed by a whole system approach.

Those who are serious about addressing these challenges should know better than pitting low carbon technologies against each other.”

In an era when anyone can instantly regurgitate their thoughts on social media, facts are going out of fashion and emotion has become a potent tool.

For a long time emotion shutdown a rational debate about nuclear energy. Scare-mongering and false truths made life very difficult for an industry which has, certainly in the past, been reticent about putting its head above the parapet.

That slowly began to change when Tony Blair declared nuclear was “back on the agenda with a vengeance” and while it may not be fashionable to use facts, they must be used to shape our opinions rather than the other way round.

In the Nuclear Activity Report, Oxford Economics reveal the astonishing facts about the economic importance of the nuclear industry.

Its figures show the sector directly contributes £6.4 billion to the economy as well as employs tens of thousands of people. And when you think about it, all that means stable, above average incomes for families across the country as well as the indirect benefits which go on to support almost 155,000 people.

When you delve deeper, the fact the industry supported £1 in every £50 of economic output in the north west and the south west last year is quite incredible. It proves the positive effect the sector can have in regions and supports the narrative that the industry can be an engine for economic growth.

A fifth of the UK’s electricity came from nuclear in 2016 – more than any other single low carbon technology. We have a strong future with 18GW of nuclear new build in the pipeline and a decommissioning programme with an annual budget of more than £3 billion supporting a predominantly British supply chain.

The issue, particularly in this modern social media driven age, will be how nuclear advocates can overcome emotive arguments based on falsehoods and preconceived perceptions to make sure the public know about the positive nuclear story in this country.

Industry has a key role to play and now is the time to raise our heads, armed with the facts and talk positively about a sector which supports more than a hundred thousand families across the UK, keeps the lights on and has the potential to be a key economic stabiliser in post-Brexit Britain.

A new poll undertaken by YouGov for the NIA revealed 56% of the public want to remain in Euratom with only 10% believing the UK should leave the Treaty and the remaining 34% unsure.

The UK nuclear industry believes seeking to retain the main features of Euratom membership through a third-party agreement, in negotiation with the European Commission, would best serve the national interest and ensure the sector can continue to operate without risk of significant disruption.

Following the latest Contracts for Difference allocation, NIA Chief Executive, Tom Greatrex described reports that the cost of future offshore wind projects may fall dramatically as “good news”. He added, “As the UK renewable trade body, informed commentators and industry experts have made clear, one technology can’t solve the UK’s power challenge.

“With two thirds of the UK’s currently despatchable generation capacity due to retire by 2030, including all but one of the current nuclear fleet, the UK will need the full range of low carbon technologies to provide the reliable, secure and readily available power for homes, businesses and public services.”

A new report from ResPublica argues the UK needs to invest in new nuclear now to secure a sustainable and low carbon future and to forge new trading relationships post-Brexit. The report also explains that nuclear should not be framed as an alternative to renewables.

Commenting on the report, Sue Hayman MP for Workington and Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy said: “We need to find long-term energy solutions that can continue to meet the electricity needs of the country cost-effectively and reliable new nuclear to balance the intermittent nature of renewable technologies must be a priority for industry and government.”

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France reassess nuclear shutdown The French government has said it will come up with a more “realistic” target to reduce the country’s dependence on nuclear power.

Hollande’s government insisted that by 2025, nuclear’s share of generation would fall from 75% to 50% but the country’s new Environment Minister, Nicolas Hulot has reassessed this position.

In a news conference in Paris, he explained, “We will reduce the share of nuclear in the mix as soon as possible,” but doing it too quickly would increase CO2 emissions and put jobs at risk.

Although he did state that the Fessenheim nuclear plant, France’s oldest, would be closed during President Macron’s five-year term.

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Asia remains dominant area for nuclear growth A World Nuclear Association report puts Asia at the forefront of new nuclear. Of the 10 new nuclear power reactors that

6 — WINTER | 2017

started up worldwide in 2016, eight were located in Asia. Furthermore, two-thirds of the 61 reactors under construction around the world are being built in Asia, with almost half of these being built in China.

A total of 448 TWh of nucleargenerated electricity was produced in Asia in 2016 which represents 18% of the global total of 2,476 TWh. An additional 57 reactors, with a combined capacity of 60,340 MWe, are planned or proposed in Asian countries with no existing nuclear generating capacity including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

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Toshiba to help enhance Ukraine’s nuclear fleet Ukraine’s Energoatom and Japan’s Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on co-operation in the modernisation of the turbine island equipment of Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

According to Energoatom, the bilateral MoU covers increasing power

output, efficiency and safety through the upgrading of turbine island equipment. It also aims to expand co-operation in the long-term service of installed equipment at nuclear power plants and to introduce the latest “technical and financial solutions”.

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Citizens recommend completion of Korean units Construction of Units 5 and 6 of South Korea’s Shin Kori nuclear power plant looks set to resume after an independent panel recommended completion of the project. Work on the units was suspended at around 30% complete, at an expected cost of $88 million, in July after President Moon Jae-in issued an order to halt construction.

While the commission voted to continue construction of Shin Kori 5 and 6, the majority were also in favour of President Moon’s proposal to reduce South Korea’s dependence on nuclear energy. President Moon said plans for further new reactors will be cancelled and the operating periods of existing units will be limited to 40 years.

For more details on these and other stories please visit www.world-nuclear-news.org

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Cumbria, England

RIGHT NOW

THE WORLD

WANTS UK GOODS AND SERVICES

DIT Civil Nuclear Showcase 2018 27-28 February 2018, Hilton Bankside London

Register now to secure your place at the DIT Civil Nuclear Showcase 2018.

With an established reputation in the civil nuclear calendar this premier annual event is not to be missed. The Showcase provides a unique opportunity to network with a diverse mix of senior delegates from the UK and all around the world, including China, France, Japan and South Korea.

Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the NIA and Campbell Keir Director Energy at the Department for International Trade (DIT), will facilitate the two-day event.

A tailored programme will provide valuable insights into the latest developments in the global civil nuclear marketplace and help you develop business opportunities.

Country briefings will illustrate opportunities for UK companies to export and collaborate with international partners.

Register before 31 January 2018 to receive these exclusive benefits: • Pre-book one-to-one meetings with overseas delegates • Have your company listed in the event brochure distributed to all UK and overseas delegates • Special rate of £195 +VAT per delegate (£295 +VAT thereafter) Sponsorship and exhibition packages are available, please contact: E: DITNuclear@brayleino.co.uk; T: 0117 906 4574 Visit: www.events.trade.gov.uk/dit-civil-nuclear-showcase-2018

Why attend?

Hear and meet a fantastic array of speakers and participants including early confirmations: • Duncan Hawthorne, CEO, Horizon Nuclear Power • Tom Samson, CEO NuGeneration • Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, Managing Director New Build, EDF Energy • Zheng Dongshan, Senior Vice President, CGN • Adrian Simper, Strategy & Technology Director, NDA • Paul Howarth, CEO, National Nuclear Laboratory • Andrew Sherry, Chief Scientist, National Nuclear Laboratory • Fiona Rayment, Chair, Nuclear Skills Strategy Group

Speakers and programme may be subject to change

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Out with the old, in with the new BY. DEBORAH WARD / NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING AUTHORITY

B

ack in 2006, the collection of old offices, stores, labs and workshops next to Berkeley’s redundant nuclear power station were looking tired and run-down. Some were empty, awaiting demolition, while others functioned as an administrative centre for southern Magnox sites.

Today, a programme of refurbishment, construction and collaboration between local partnerships has transformed the former nuclear research centre into a pioneering campus focused on technical skills training, education and business: the Gloucestershire Science and Technology Park.

Alongside the college campus, a range of units are already occupied by almost a dozen businesses, including a bio-fuels research company and a modular housing development organisation. A long-closed experimental reactor still sits on the campus as a reminder of the site’s heritage, but the eyecatching centrepiece is a former engineering rig hall that has been completely renovated.

Three educational establishments share the campus: →→ South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, which

offers engineering-based training and studies for 16 -18 year olds. Its facilities include workshops, offices and project spaces. A state-of-the-art welding facility is also being developed to further enhance skills training.

→→ Alongside it is the University Technical College,

aimed at developing specialist vocational skills from the age of 14 onwards. Linked with the University of Gloucestershire and local businesses, its courses in cyber security, digital technologies and engineering are influenced by employer requirements.

→→ Meanwhile, the University of Gloucestershire

Cyber Security Centre has worked alongside the College to provide secure facilities for businesses and organisations working in cyber security, including a conference suite, cyber training suite, demonstration zone and ‘accelerator’ zone for start-up and scale-up businesses.

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It is the UK’s first nuclear cleanup programme that has successfully brought a contaminated site back into full community use, cleverly adapting existing buildings and now boasting state-of-the-art training facilities.

Tony Smithers, Property Manager at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) which owns the site, said: “This is, essentially, a site restored and mission accomplished. We are delighted that the vision of stakeholders, as expressed during consultations about site end states some years ago, will be realised.

“The potential for using these redundant facilities for educational purposes was not always obvious, however, and we did once draw up plans to demolish the buildings.

“The college’s plans are exciting and ambitious, supporting the UK drive to excel in science and engineering, while also building on Berkeley’s nuclear history.”

The joint venture between GFirst LEP and South Gloucestershire and Stroud

(SGS) College, the Gloucestershire Renewable Energy, Engineering and Nuclear (GREEN) Campus has now welcomed its first 100 students, with numbers expected to rise to 1,000 in the next few years.

The story began in the 1960s, when Berkeley Centre was one of the UK’s three key research centres for the nuclear industry employing about 750 staff including scientists, engineers, technicians and admin staff. The power station employed a further 1,750 at its operational peak.

Over the following years, the Centre emptied and the decommissioning process began for the many facilities used for radiological experimentation, followed by demolitions and land clean-up.

The NDA took ownership when it was established in 2005 and began to oversee lifting of the nuclear regulations that prevented re-use of the site. Initial options were focused on wholesale demolition, estimated to cost around

£8 million, and marketing the land for business use.

Many discussions later, in 2015, the site and its remaining buildings were instead leased to SGS College on a longterm basis.

Community voices have long championed the project. Penny Wride, Chair of the Berkeley Site Stakeholder Group (SSG), said: “The Berkeley SSG has long seen the potential for redeveloping the Berkeley labs into a further education facility for the local area.

“The engineering centre is a fantastic example of putting the nuclear industry mantra of ‘recycle and re-use’ into practice.

“The campus will provide exciting opportunities for young people in Berkeley and beyond for many years to come and I’m delighted to see the SSG’s vision come to fruition.”

The Berkeley programme highlights just one success of the final process for the UK’s decommissioning sites, with many more to come.

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Clearing the air BY. MARK SIMPSON / HARGREAVES DUCTWORK LTD

In its latest Nuclear Provision corporate report, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), estimates it will take at least 120 years to clean up the country’s 17 earliest nuclear sites, with costs totalling £117 billion. Included in this fee is the expected cost of decommissioning, dismantling and demolishing the buildings, managing and disposing of waste, and remediation of land.

As stated in the report, at sites where a decommissioning programme is relatively straightforward and the challenges well understood, costs can be calculated with relative confidence and ultimately driven down. Whilst this may be the case, with the risks involved in the sector, costs should not be a limiting factor; rather solutions should be specified on the basis of safety, quality and compliance.

A vital element for any nuclear decommissioning is a fully bespoke quality and compliant heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solution, specifically, the ventilation and ductwork system, which controls the flow of air. Air particles may contain harmful particles as a result of entering and leaving a nuclear site undergoing full decommissioning and containment procedures.

In any such environment and particularly in one that may be hazardous, ventilation and containment solutions should be given significant consideration prior to installation, especially in relation to quality, performance and safety of the solution at all stages of design, manufacture, installation and commissioning.

One way in which nuclear licensed sites can be confident in the knowledge they are installing a HVAC system which will meet the standards required is by using a company certified to the latest ISO9001:2015 quality management standards. ISO9001 are quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and involvement of top management, and the process approach and continual improvement.

However, there is only one HVAC company that has achieved the ISO9001:2015 certification for the manufacture and installation of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, fire safety systems and containment solutions and high integrity specialist fabrications for sectors including nuclear, defence and major infrastructure – Hargreaves Ductwork Ltd. Achieving best practice techniques, such as ISO9001:2015, is one of the only ways in which specialist HVAC companies can demonstrate a continuing emphasis on improvement, alongside highlighting its position as market leaders within the industry.

This is especially true given the ever-changing compliance environment and the proliferation of management system standards. A significant number of additional factors, such as client expectations, environmental health and safety legislation, CE Marking and an increasingly diverse supply chain, illustrates the key role management systems play.

It almost goes without saying that safety is the key to the UK’s decommissioning mission and while HVAC solutions are a small part, they are a very important part of ensuring it is a safe process. Nuclear is a challenging and demanding environment but with that brings opportunity for compliant companies like Hargreaves Ductwork Ltd.

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At Hinkley today: →→2,400 workers →→65,000 hot meals served monthly – catered by local businesses →→10,000 tonnes of rock has been delivered →→Four million cubic metres of earth has been excavated →→Two concrete batching plants are now complete – capacity for 2,000 tonnes of concrete to be produced per day

→→29km of ground nails have been installed →→£15 million is being invested into education, employment and skills

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Kick off at Hinkley Point C BY. SHAYNE HALFPENNY-RAY

As one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the UK, it is important to understand the sheer scale of Hinkley Point C. The 430-acre project, which is about one and a half times the size of Hyde Park and could fit 39 Wembley Stadium pitches within it, will take between seven to 10 years to be built.

Government is committed to the decarbonisation of the energy sector, and the UK needs new low carbon baseload capacity to support the growing shift to intermittent renewables. With so much riding on this first reactor, as the first new build nuclear project in over two decades, it is important to look at how far it has come in a year.

When operating Hinkley will supply up to 3.2GW power to the grid, enough to supply electricity to around six million homes. This is a huge step towards replacing the UK’s ageing f leet of nuclear reactors that currently supply 21% of the UK’s electricity.

With over 2,400 workers on site, around 76 of which are apprentices, all systems are go at Hinkley. A key part of the project is its vast supply chain, with 64% of contracts (worth over £9 billion), going to UK firms. EDF Energy has confirmed over 80% of these contacts have now been signed, locking in huge value for UK construction, engineering, and materials industries.

In this year alone, EDF Energy has completed five out of six targets set, with the sixth on its way to completion.

The first target was to begin construction of HPC site accommodation, with the East Welfare building having now been completed. Safety concrete has been poured, work on an extensive sea wall to combat f lood risks has begun and civil work design studies, for the reactor pre-stressing gallery and pumping station raft have been carried out.

The sixth and final challenge is to begin the installation of CRF sea water cooling pipes. The large concrete pipes have begun to arrive at the site, with the team hoping to have them all over the next few months, ready for installation to start before the New Year.

Commenting on the one-year anniversary for Hinkley, Nigel Cann, Hinkley Point C Programme and Construction Delivery Director, said: “The project is bringing together firms and expertise from across the UK and the world. We have already achieved a lot and our focus is firmly on what we need to deliver in the year ahead and beyond.”

Outside the industry there is a perception of Hinkley Point C which ignores the progress already made at the site. This is a nationally significant infrastructure project and the challenge for EDF Energy will be moving the progress seen this year into 2018 and beyond.

01946 599022

2017 | WINTER — 13

IN VIEW

Merseyside modular manufacturing Cammell Laird has witnessed rapidly rising interest in the offsite manufacture of major components for the energy industry, including approaches from a range of nuclear vendors.

The company is now working with the Nuclear AMRC and other partners in the development of a module build supply network.

The goal is to dramatically reduce the schedule risk and cost of big capital items whilst simultaneously improving safety, and quality, with the added socio-economic benefits of ‘taking the job to the people’ who work in a familiar environment and go home every night.

Lessons are being applied from other safety critical sectors, for example ship building and aerospace, where the adoption of offsite module construction has had a minimum of a 30% reduction in overall cost, and similar savings in schedule.

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A broad range of facilities courtesy of Cammell Laird — www.clbh.co.uk

As an early pioneer of nuclear energy, the UK’s decommissioning mission is vast, complex and in many cases requires first-of-akind solutions. And, the key to any solution is to reduce risk and importantly save time and money.

Working in collaboration with Magnox and LLW Repository Ltd (LLWR), Tradebe Inutec developed a solution to remove problematic fuel element debris (FED) radioactive waste at Bradwell.

FED is a waste from the cladding of fuel elements used in Magnox reactors and is a long-standing radioactive waste management challenge for transport, storage, treatment, conditioning and pre-disposal safety.

The purpose of the Bradwell FED project was to establish a new waste management route for the disposal of debris at the LLWR site at Drigg in west Cumbria. Previously, the plan had been to dissolve the 240 tonnes of FED in nitric acid but this suffered delays because of significant technical challenges.

Working as a team alongside Magnox and LLWR, Tradebe Inutec provided the detailed technical underpinning on FED properties, radiological characterisation, support for radioactive materials transport, interim storage, high-force compaction and hydrogensafety studies to enable project delivery.

As with any project there were a number of challenges that needed to be overcome, for example co-ordinating safety management systems across very different and distinct

Saving time and money on Bradwell FED BY. TIM DOWLING / TRADEBE INUTEC

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nuclear sites. Detailed modelling and measurement of corrosion and hydrogen-gas release typical of reactive metal wastes was also needed for disposal site Environmental Safety Case and permit compliance.

Using data from an experimental programme designed and run at its Winfrith site in Dorset, Tradebe Inutec and Magnox jointly developed new computational models to effectively predict FED corrosion rates in all containers used in transport, treatment and disposal activities under all possible environmental conditions.

The collaboration and final strategy led to a huge step forward in the clean-up and decommissioning at Bradwell.

As a result, more than 1,400 drums of FED were transferred off the site at Bradwell, saving approximately two years of dissolution operations, and brought forward the site closure programme by nearly a year. All-in-all saving £29 million for the UK taxpayer.

The transformative approach is also now being used by Magnox as a key component of its strategy to manage FED inventories at Sizewell and Oldbury. Tradebe Inutec will use its FED experience and co-packaging approach to support sites across the UK in safely dealing with a range of other strategic and problematic radioactive wastes.

The decommissioning mission is ongoing and this important success is just one story of many that is keeping the UK as the premier nuclear decommissioning industry in the world.

New Managing Director for NSAN Jo Tipa has been appointed Managing Director of National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN).

Jo, who has been an integral part of NSAN since its inception, took over from Jean Llewellyn OBE, in December 2017.

In 2007, Jo led the writing of the business plan that was submitted and approved by government to establish NSAN. Since its launch she has led the operations team through a rapid development and growth strategy.

Robert Davies, Independent Chair of NSAN said: “Jo Tipa is a natural successor to take NSAN into its next chapter. A proven leader, Jo is passionate about NSAN, developing people and building successful teams. The board agreed she has the ideal combination of skills, ability and experience to take NSAN forward.”

Jo has been instrumental on a number of important initiatives on behalf of the nuclear skills agenda including the development of a nuclear focussed provider network and the development of an industry standard for in house delivery of training with The Institute of

Innovation & Knowledge Exchange called NEF Assured® Nuclear.

A key figure on the nuclear skills agenda for over a decade, Jo will take over responsibility for the continued success and future development of NSAN. After her appointment Jo commented: “NSAN has a deserved reputation as the go to place for support in skills for the nuclear industry across the UK. “NSAN has tremendous opportunity to grow further, bringing our strong business values and customer focussed delivery, we will continue to meet the demands of the industry and the high expectations of our members.

“I am really excited to take on this new role and help to take NSAN into its next chapter. Jean Llewellyn will be moving on to new challenges and it has been a pleasure to have been able to work so closely with her setting such solid foundations for NSAN. I am looking forward to working with the NSAN team and the wider membership to ensure that NSAN moves from strength to strength.”

Recruitment support to the full life-cycle of the UK and international Nuclear industry; New Build, Existing Generation & Decommissioning.

| www.energyresourcing.com

2017 | WINTER — 17

Current NSSG Programme Delivery →→ Nuclear workforce assessment and

resource supply modelling to support workforce planning →→ Common nuclear standards and career pathways to facilitate mobility →→ Sharing and promoting talent via Nuclear Gateway Portal →→ Collaboration project for construction/ engineering skills mobilisation →→ Accelerated experience and learning programme for transferees into nuclear sector from other sectors (e.g. oil and gas, military) →→ Nuclear Bursary Scheme to support individuals – an investment in skills →→ Collaboration of high quality providers and facilities to develop excellent skills →→ Group schemes developed, incentivised and implemented to create a continuous pipeline of skills at all levels

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Meeting the nuclear skills challenge

The revival in nuclear new build means we’ll need to see an increase in the number of highly skilled people to build and operate the new fleet. All of this at a time when the UK will also need a skilled workforce to continue to run existing stations, decommission older ones, process nuclear waste and maintain the defence programme.

The Nuclear Skills Strategy Group (NSSG) sponsored and most recent Nuclear Workforce Assessment 1 shows that construction of five sites for 16–18 GWe new generation capacity, has a significant impact on total nuclear workforce demand, causing it to rise from 87,560 this year to 100,619 in 2021.

And we’ve got a new build programme that will see the UK move from Magnox gas-cooled Graphite Moderated Reactors and Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors to Light Water Reactors, as well as a switch from reprocessing to direct disposal.

This places even greater emphasis on ensuring the right skills and knowledge for our sector. In fact, combining the increased demand with retirements in the next four years, means the sector needs to recruit around 7,000 people annually. In addition, without direct intervention, we could lose up to 30% (300 people) of our subject matter expertise over this period.

It’s clear the necessary expansion of skilled people in such a multi-faceted landscape, where there is also increasing competition for skills and an ageing workforce, requires active skills management. In order to tackle

this UK-wide skills challenge, the NSSG was formed last year to apply national leadership to this key strategic sector of the economy.

The NSSG comprises employers with major plans and expenditure, government and trades unions. It represents both the civil and defence sectors. It is delivering across its objectives through robust Programme Delivery, underpinned by a Strategic Action Plan 2 which was the subject of wide consultation across nuclear employers, stakeholders and government.

The NSSG’s Delivery Plan includes a range of programmes, from Group Training Arrangements for apprentices and a new online platform to share talent across related sectors, through to a clear national curriculum, working closely with the new National College for Nuclear and regional skills initiatives.

All this is underpinned by an agreed timeline of nuclear sector activities and regularly refreshed labour market information (LMI) on supply and demand.

The work of the NSSG also aligns closely with the developing Nuclear Industrial Strategy through the Nuclear Industry Council (NIC). The NSSG is the skills workstream of the NIC and brings together national and regional skills challenges.

On the regional dimension there is a recognition of new nuclear communities developing in new geographical regions, as well as growth around existing operations. This means we’re seeing several generations of reactors all at

different stages of operation, new build and decommissioning. The proposal therefore is to implement the Nuclear Sector Deal at regional level, working with Councils, LEPs, providers and employers in the key nuclear regions.

The work of the NSSG does not stand still. It constantly seeks to plan for the future, regularly refreshing the LMI to map out future needs, including gathering data on the supply of skills into the sector, and developing ongoing strategies to address emerging requirements.

It’s ultimate aim, working with an array of partners in the landscape, is to develop and nurture a diverse working population by putting in place clear career paths, the right qualifications, standards and accessible, fit-for-purpose, training and support.

This will also ensure the UK is positioned to deliver the future increase in workload without an over reliance on overseas labour, that it has a powerful nuclear skills capability and is able to respond to international opportunities, all key considerations as we move closer towards Brexit.

DR FIONA RAYMENT OBE Chair, Nuclear Skills Strategy Group

1. Nuclear Workforce Assessment − www.cogentskills.com/media/76523/nwa2017_public.pdf 2. Strategic Action Plan − www.cogentskills.com/media/76258/national-nuclear-skills-strategic-plan.pdf

2017 | WINTER — 19

READY FOR READY FOR DIGITAL DIGITAL DISRUPTION? DISRUPTION? BY. JAY FERRIDAY

I

ndustry 4.0 is the snappy term for the technological overhaul of traditional industry which is set to disrupt the established way of doing things — think emails replacing fax machines. New technology is leading to a focus on interconnectivity, and the use of smart devices, as well as cloud computing to create a more flexible and efficient workflow in a variety of industries.

The topic of digitalisation can be confusing, but it’s actually relatively simple. It’s all about how industry can use new and emerging technologies to streamline processes, communicate more effectively with customers and suppliers and ultimately be more efficient.

A good Industry 4.0 example is customisable consumer goods. Using new technology, clothes can be designed, ordered, manufactured and delivered in record times and with minimal increases in cost. They key is using company-interfacing software to process new orders effectively and an entirely new approach to production — if you treat every item as a custom item, then nothing is truly custom (and there is no associated cost increase). So when England inevitably win the World Cup next summer, you can get a celebratory t-shirt the very next day.

Whilst the fast turnaround of custom items doesn’t have any obvious advantage for the nuclear industry, there are some areas the industry could benefit from. Sharing information on a cloud computing source could allow for plant design to incorporate requirements that come from both the vendor and supply chain.

Traditionally, reactors are designed to a specification and then the required individual components are designed and sent to the supply chain for manufacture. Instead, the supply chain could have a greater say in the design phase through effective information sharing and feed in knowledge about what components are practical (and most economical) to manufacture.

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Virtual and augmented reality, combined with additive manufacture, can speed up the design process and save valuable resource. What if the design engineers of a nuclear plant vendor could design complex components and systems in 3D virtual space, giving appreciation of space and geometry far beyond that of 2D computing design software?

Even better, what if that virtual system could be shared with the supply chain in order to collaborate, improving efficiency and fostering a right-first-time approach?

Revolutionising design processes is just one of the many possibilities of emerging technology and time will tell exactly which new tools will be taken up by industry. Integrating the supply chain into a more cohesive network can only provide value and, if executed well, will drive down costs of massive infrastructure projects like nuclear power stations. The real question is of adoption.

Historically the nuclear industry is slow to adopt change — an understandable viewpoint given the safety critical nature of projects.

But the industry is made up of construction companies, metalwork companies and design companies, all of which will face pressure to adopt Industry 4.0 initiatives from other business areas. With increasing technological capability in the supply chain and support services, how long will it take for reactor vendors to take advantage of the benefits of a radically different Industry 4.0 approach?

All large infrastructure projects face huge cost, a degree of inefficiency and problematic construction schedules, and nuclear power stations are no exception. As renewable technologies mature and the competitiveness of the energy market increases, how can nuclear power adapt to remain an important part of a diverse mix? That’s a tough question, but there’s a strong case that Industry 4.0 is part of the answer.

SNAPSHOT

Making the case for nuclear BY. RUPERT LEWIS

Recently, with the cost of offshore wind falling and renewables technologies maturing, some are arguing the case for nuclear power has been exhausted.

While, I would obviously say that is rubbish, many other independent analysts, in a flurry of reports, are renewing the case for new nuclear.

Earlier this year, National Grid’s Future Energy Scenarios report concluded “new nuclear build is required in all scenarios” and the fastest route to decarbonisation requires 20GW of nuclear by 2050.

The reasoning is obvious and is because nuclear plays an important role in balancing the intermittency of renewable forms of generation. And as more and more intermittent sources enter the grid and coal is phased out, nuclear power’s attributes will become increasingly important.

ResPublica’s ‘Expanding Horizons’ report makes this same case explaining,

“new nuclear is not an alternative to renewable and battery technology – it is a (significant) part of the wider solution.”

The report also argues nuclear “by creating a secure and sustainable supply of electricity” can become an enabler for new technologies as it will help de-risk the market and “be a platform for further innovation rather than a barrier.”

Looking overseas, ResPublica argues “the UK can become a global powerhouse for servicing the global nuclear industry” – a market which is worth an estimated £1 trillion over the next decade. As the UK seeks more opportunity overseas, nuclear could be a very important sector for the economy.

The Industrial Strategy Commission’s final report gave a broad and detailed analysis which gives an interesting summary, focusing on key areas of the UK economy including the nuclear industry.

Recognising future opportunities for the nuclear sector, the report clearly explains that without nuclear on the grid, the UK will struggle to successfully decarbonise its energy system.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Professor Dieter Helm’s Cost of Energy Review, commissioned by the government, explains the investment requirements to handle intermittent renewables is a significant challenge, and that nuclear has helped provide “a comfortable security of supply margin” and existing nuclear generation needs to be replaced.

For a time, industry thought the argument had been won and the new build programme was an economically promising inevitably. While it is certainly promising and underway at Hinkley Point C, the rest of the programme is not inevitable and the case for nuclear needs to continue to be explained.

2017 | WINTER — 21

To infinity and beyond Hundreds of teenagers are inspired to pursue careers in science and engineering after spending a day at a science and technology festival in Cumbria.

School students from across the county heard worldrenowned physicist and broadcaster, Professor Brian Cox, and a host of other international experts, call for them to ‘follow their dreams’ and become the next generation of world-class scientists and engineers.

The Infinity Science and Technology Festival, organised by the University of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute, the REACT Foundation, NuGen, the National Nuclear Laboratory, Sellafield Ltd, the NDA, the University of Cumbria and UCLAN, was the first of its kind to be held outside London.

Hosted at West Lakes Academy, the event aimed to encourage young people in Cumbria to pursue careers in STEM to support the region’s massive future investment in the energy sector.

Headline speaker Professor Cox told the students that Cumbria has a world-leading industry that ‘warrants great talent’. But, he said, there is a shortage of scientists and engineers.

He acknowledged the importance of inspiring future scientists and engineers while they are young – and underlined that the schools, universities and industries are there to help them realise their potential.

The festival was attended by more than 210 students from 31 schools across Cumbria, 100 student ambassadors from the academy and a dozen students from St Paul’s Way Trust School in London, where the sister event to Infinity, the Science Summer School, has been held for the past six years.

Co-founder of the Science Summer School, Lord Andrew Mawson OBE, said: “In July 2016 we were thrilled to host a group of young people from west Cumbria in London. We were so inspired by the levels of enthusiasm that it was decided to hold a similar event in Cumbria.”

“The event in London has been running successfully for six years and our research has shown that the event has not only built confidence but has enabled 50% of pupils, many on free school meals, to gain places at Russell Group Universities.

In addition, around 50% have gone on to study STEM subjects.”

The event also featured 15 exhibitions promoting STEM careers and 12 ‘hands-on’ science and technology workshops. The day was rounded-off with a spectacular evening showcase which gave around 200 parents and carers a similar inspiring experience.

Ninety-five per cent of pupils surveyed at the event said they found it ‘exciting’, while 85 per cent said they had been inspired to think about a career in science or technology.

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The Twittersphere BY. JAY FERRIDAY

Adverts are everywhere. So is social media. More and more businesses are starting to combine the two to create unique and interesting content. But there are problems…

The majority of ads aren’t cool. There’s no way around it, when you’re scrolling through Twitter or Facebook, generic ads are often a boring inconvenience. Paying to promote a vague tweet rather than tweeting conventionally to your specific, tailored followers doesn’t make sense - just ask Liam Payne after a promoted tweet about his album release flopped spectacularly.

But it doesn’t have to be that way – putting in some extra thought can make a huge difference and a key rule is to not treat new social media platforms the same as every other one.

Tapping into what each social media platform is all about represents a great opportunity to create an online presence that stands out from the crowd.

A great example is National Geographic - they post amazing photos on Instagram that act as an extension of the magazine.

The content matches well with the platform and doesn’t feel like a series of lazy adverts. Another great use was Cooper Press creating a Snapchat filter to promote their weekly newsletter at the Ember tech conference in Portland last year. It cost them just $20, and they didn’t even Who to follow? attend the event!

Want information on nuclear Being an early adopter to and other relevant topics? new platforms can present This issue we recommend a huge headstart in creating you follow: brand awareness. It puts your company in the spotlight and it is significantly easier to @UKNNL build a network when you @FORATOM_nuclear are a significant part of the @NuclearAMRC pioneering minority.

If you created the 10th profile on Twitter, it’s likely a large percentage of the other nine profiles are going to follow you because, well, who else is there?

The key is not to explicitly advertise. Interact, inform and inspire people and the brand recognition will fall in to place.

Communicating with people in unusual and unexpected ways can be hugely effective.

Could you ‘swipe right’ for clean electricity on Tinder?

How about Snapchatting the inside of a nuclear reactor?

Maybe inspire the engineers of the future with a ‘day in the life of’ video on YouTube? There are so many opportunities to think differently and reach a whole new audience.

Will you be the first?

Twitter Count Followers: 5,342 Tweets: 7,810

@NIAUK

@brianelliott Every time I fire up the iPhone and check the news I am reminded of what unremitting crap #mobile #advertising has turned out to be.

2017 | WINTER — 23

NEWS IN BRIEF

Modelling the UK’s nuclear demand For years the NIA and Nuclear AMRC have worked together to promote organisations in the nuclear industry, and this partnership was cemented recently when Nuclear AMRC joined the NIA as a member.

B

ased near Sheffield, the Nuclear AMRC has a clear aim to help UK manufacturers win work in the nuclear sector and is teaming up with the NIA to help this cause.

After securing funding from Innovate UK, through the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Nuclear AMRC and the NIA are working to create a model to map out future demand for UK nuclear manufacturing.

The aim of the Demand Model is to help manufacturers identify upcoming work packages and allow companies to map where areas of their organisation requires more investment to help add greatest value.

The first stages of work on the Demand Model began almost a year ago and Chris Savage, the NIA’s Industrial Advisor explained, “Our work to build

a picture of the demand profile for new nuclear plants and detailed work packages was a necessary first step to understanding what future opportunities will look like for the UK’s supply chain.

“The next stage will be to match these against the capabilities of UK companies, to identify where the opportunities are for the UK and to design targeted interventions where required.”

The initial project will focus on particular commodity requirements for a representative new build project.

The modelling methodology can then be extended to cover the full range of commodities and components for the new build programme, as well as the requirements of the decommissioning and submarine programmes.

Helen Arthur, Supply Chain Development Programme Manager at

Andy Storer, Chief Executive, Nuclear AMRC and Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive, NIA

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the Nuclear AMRC said, “The Demand Model will give us visibility of the supply chain opportunities for the next 20 to 30 years, which will allow us to match the best suppliers to those opportunities.

“It will provide a long-term view of the schedule for the major nuclear programmes, and make sure suppliers are ready to bid for work packages when they go out to tender.”

The work will also provide valuable information to inform government about where strategic interventions from Whitehall can help address capability gaps in the UK’s nuclear supply chain.

Nuclear is a truly global industry and the Demand Model will help ensure the UK supply chain can work to fill capability gaps and remain at the forefront an internationally competitive sector.

Sellafield support for SMEs

SMR vendors plans reignite

LINC with Sellafield Ltd encourages small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to work together to provide innovative solutions to the site’s decommissioning programme.

A new platform for small businesses has been developed where companies can view current and future challenges on the site and submit ideas for how they could solve them, allowing a direct route into opportunities at Sellafield. The launch was held at Energus, in west Cumbria, and was attended by more than 350 people.

The scheme, pioneered at the Dounreay site, was launched

by Martin Chown, Sellafield Ltd’s Supply Chain Director, at the company’s first ever Directors’ Forum supplier event.

Chown said LINC with Sellafield offers “a direct route into work at Sellafield” and that in return Sellafield “will benefit from the innovation, flexibility and fresh thinking that smaller firms can bring to complex problems.”

He went on to add “It was designed to give suppliers an opportunity to speak directly to Sellafield Ltd project teams and help us understand how we can become a better customer.”

Businesses can submit proposals on their own or in collaboration with other registered SMEs, and registered businesses will be notified as and when new work packages are published.

Sizewell C predicted generation date An artist’s impression of a Rolls-Royce small modular reactor

EDF Energy’s outgoing Chief Executive, Vincent de Rivaz, has forecast a date for the generation of power from Sizewell C. Having held the post for 16 years, Mr de Rivaz focussed on looking forward to what the next 16 may bring for the business in his departing speech.

He said that by 2033 he hoped “Hinkley Point C will have been operational for eight years” and that “Sizewell C will have been in operation for a couple of years”. He also outlined his support for Bradwell B, in collaboration with CGN to be operational by 2033.

EDF Energy plans to create a “formidable industrial legacy” both in the South West and East of England, and internationally, through successful and collaborative new build projects. These large-scale projects will deliver on a national level, supporting energy and carbon emission targets, whilst also transforming local communities.

The Sizewell C project is currently undergoing its second stage of public consultation, allowing local communities to engage with the proposals and potential effects, both positive and negative, of the planned power plant. EDF Energy has said the project offers approximately 25,000 employment opportunities over the lifetime of construction and would support around 900 permanent jobs when operational.

NuScale Power and Rolls-Royce have reinvigorated the drive for SMRs in the UK, publishing reports which press the benefits of their technologies.

In a five-point plan, ‘UK SMR Action Plan’, NuScale sets out how it will partner with UK industry to deliver a multi-billion pound SMR venture, offering the potential for UK companies to provide more than 85% of the content required for UK deployments.

NuScale Power’s Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director (UK & Europe) Tom Mundy said, “Our UK SMR Action Plan sets out a clear vision for NuScale’s technology to be rolling off production lines in UK factories, generating power for UK homes in the 2020s and transforming the UK into a hub for export into a lucrative global market.”

Rolls-Royce and its partners’ report, ‘UK SMR: A National Endeavour’, highlights the benefit of British-manufactured power plants, which could create 40,000 skilled jobs, contribute £100 billion to the economy, open a potential £400 billion global export market and potentially produce energy for as low as £60/MWh. Lord Hutton, Chairman of the Nuclear Industry Association, said, “the UK Government should make clear its intentions so that the UK can deliver a solution that will supply secure, reliable and affordable electricity”.

2017 | WINTER — 25

Time for transformation

N

uclear decommissioning in west Cumbria is at a cross-roads and Sellafield Ltd is transforming the way it works. The workforce and the community surrounding the industry are on the brink of permanent change and now, according to Sellafield, it is time for it to work with its supply chain to choose the kind of change and to ensure it is the right kind.

Transformation was the key theme of the November meeting of the Decommissioning and Existing Generation Group.

The main message was how it is the responsibility of everyone involved in the decommissioning mission to make a success of the move away from the established order of things. Change isn’t always a bad thing and transformation presents a great chance to show that the nuclear industry can improvise, adapt and overcome.

There can be little doubt that Sellafield lies at the heart of UK nuclear decommissioning and they featured heavily on the agenda of another well attended meeting, with more than 170 members present from both the NIA and Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster.

Speakers from Sellafield highlighted the exciting work, challenges and opportunities ahead and spoke about the increasing role the supply chain will play in future progress.

Its strategy on changing how decommissioning projects in the UK will be managed was of significant interest and Sellafield Director, Martin Chown, described the changes to the supply chain strategy and capability including the development of their people while driving performance and capability.

The group also heard from Nuvia on how the supply chain can come together to deliver on unique projects in a presentation which emphasised how co-operation can produce previously impossible solutions.

The Decommissioning and Existing Generation group will meet twice in 2018, a year which will also see the Decom 2018 conference taking place at County Hall, 18-19 June. Get in touch with me via stephanie.mckenna@niauk.org to attend future business group meetings free of charge.

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Images courtesy Sellafield Limited — www.gov.uk/government/organisations/sellafield-ltd and photos by Linda Bussey of PiXL, by courtesy of Britian’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) — www.becbusinesscluster.co.uk

BY. STEPHANIE MCKENNA

UK’s international nuclear future BY. GARETH DAVIES CHAIR, INTERNATIONAL GROUP

Patience is now paying off BY. TRISTRAM DENTON CHAIR, NEW BUILD GROUP

The International Group, the NIA’s newest Business Group, recently held its second meeting kindly hosted by NuGen in Manchester.

The programme covered the Group’s remit to encourage both export and inward investment, and unlock international commercial activity for NIA members, whether domestically or globally.

The Group aims to capture the wider nuclear opportunity across the sector, and this was highlighted by the variety of speakers on the day. Plans for future meetings include Canada and the Canadian supply chain in February in London, with the US, and small modular reactor technology later in the year.

Nuclear is a truly global market, shown by the international make up of UK’s new build consortia, and perhaps it is this global marketplace as well as the Brexit environment and the UK’s world-beating capabilities, and exemplary record, that has led the government to identify nuclear as one of the key sectors to promote.

The NIA’s Chairman Lord Hutton is leading on agreeing an early nuclear sector deal. While the deal hasn’t been approved yet, some of the themes have been laid out in Industry Link such as improving UK competitiveness, greater certainty for long term decommissioning funding and an ambition for the UK to become a reactor vendor again.

Following the publication of the government’s Industrial Strategy green paper in January 2017, the nuclear sector deal is now firmly on the horizon. With the White Paper’s imminent release, the strategy is to reignite the UK’s successful trading past, build on both new and existing commercial relationships, and capitalise on the global opportunity.

The International Group is in its infancy but feedback from members has been positive so far, but as with all Business Groups, the meeting must reflect NIA member’s needs.

As a result, if you would like to sponsor, host or participate in a future International Group meeting, or would be interested in hearing about a specific matter or company, then please do not hesitate to contact stephanie.mckenna@niauk.org or call 020 7766 6651 or contact myself on gareth.davies@niauk.org or phone me on 07764 197732.

For the UK nuclear industry, new build has felt like a childhood Christmas. Long awaited, full of promise, but always that bit too far away.

It’s 11 years since the Prime Minister of the day announced nuclear was “back with a vengeance”; and close to 10 since the 2008 nuclear white paper initiated the new build policy journey.

For NIA new build group members, the wait for progress – and for contracts – has been long, frustrating, and for some, too much. However, we have reasons to be positive.

During our October meeting, EDF Energy told 100 delegates at Outokumpu that “97% of contracts for Hinkley Point C are at preferred bidder or contract stage”. Commercial progress, alongside the physical changes already underway at Hinkley Point, as the transformation from moonscape to construction site gathers pace.

EDF Energy can also take pride that the site now has a daily workforce of more than 2,000 – ensuring financial security and stability for 2,000 plus families.

At the same session, Horizon Nuclear Power outlined the work marching them towards a final investment decision for Wylfa Newydd. We should not fail to grasp the importance of this early work in ensuring that when construction does begin, it will do so based on a thoroughly developed plan. A pre-FID project, is a project no-less, and it is in these planning stages that the foundations of success are laid.

Whilst neither NuGeneration nor CGN were able to join our October session, the whole industry can be heartened by the resolute commitment of industry, government and opposition to seeing the nuclear new build programme be realised to its fullest potential.

The cross party support underpinning this was hard-won over the past 15 years – and should not be taken for granted. The role of nuclear in fighting global climate change and securing supply is something we must all, always, continue to promote.

The UK energy mix is changing, as renewables deliver rising availability and falling costs. Anyone who truly values our environment must welcome this in the strongest possible terms.

Nuclear has played a role for the UK in an energy system dominated first by coal, and then by gas. Its role in a future system is clear – to deliver stable, dependable always-on electricity. Nuclear and renewables together can provide Britain with the affordable, dependable, sustainable energy we need.

2018 holds much promise. Progress across new build sites, potential new players in our market, policy progress on small modular reactors, and so much more.

After all the waiting, new build is here. The task now, for all of us, is to embrace it, make the most of it, and – above all – work together to make a success of it.

The New Build group will meet three times in 2018, sharing project updates, supply chain news and policy overviews.

Contact shayne.halfpenny-ray@niauk.org to join these free of charge events.

2017 | WINTER — 27

NEW NIA MEMBERS

NOT A MEMBER? To find out about the work of NIA and benefits of membership visit www.niauk.org/about-us/ membership-benefits.

You will find more information on our business group meetings, monthly updates and our exclusive online trade directory.

To discuss membership options available to your company please call +44 (0)20 7766 6651 or email stephanie.mckenna@niauk.org

CGN UK

Nuclear AMRC namrc.co.uk

CGN is the world’s largest nuclear power plant builder, a major investor in UK new nuclear, and the largest owner and operator of nuclear power stations in China. CGN’s mission is to provide the world with cleaner, safer and more affordable energy.

Nuclear AMRC is a collaboration of academic and industrial partners from across the nuclear supply chain, with the mission of helping UK manufacturers win work at home and worldwide.

Its manufacturing innovation capabilities and supply chain development services are open to all UK manufacturers.

Baker & McKenzie LLP bakermckenzie.com

ENGIE engie.com/en

Baker & McKenzie has been specialising in international energy, mining and infrastructure projects worldwide for more than 65 years – it understands the needs of both investors and financiers.

Its transactional capability, coupled with its broad-ranging skills in finance, corporate, tax, and environmental and competition law, means it can deliver commercially effective solutions at every stage of the process.

ENGIE is one of the few European groups having more than 55 years of nuclearrelated expertise all along the nuclear value chain.

ENGIE is a major European nuclear operator with seven PWR units in Belgium.

Numerous entities of the ENGIE Group are strategically positioned in nuclear engineering and design, construction, installation, maintenance, waste management and decommissioning.

Cape Industrial Services Ltd capeplc.com Cape is an international leading provider of safety-critical industrial services within the nuclear, energy, and natural resources sectors, offering a wide range of multi-disciplinary, nuclear services.

Cape’s nuclear professional operations mobilise large numbers of SQEP (white/ blue-collared) personnel on operational and end-of-life nuclear assets.

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John F Hunt Ltd johnfhunt.co.uk John F Hunt is a group of Construction related companies providing specialist industry linked services.

As a multi-disciplined contractor the group works in decommissioning, remediation, dismantling and demolition, infrastructure, asbestos surveying and removal, plant hire including power backup, lifting equipment and personal protective equipment supplies.

Tradebe Inutec inutec.co.uk Tradebe Inutec is a specialist provider of innovative nuclear waste management processing solutions. Its offsite solutions have provided greater flexibility for all nuclear customers for more than 30 years.

It has the most extensive UK and overseas authorisations and safety case of any UK commercial company. The company is a centre of excellence for treatment of problematic and borderline ILW waste.

Underwater Construction Corporation UK Ltd (UCC) uccdive.com UCC is the premier global provider of underwater services to the nuclear industry.

It aids licensees in achieving higher plant reliability, maintaining and improving plant safety, minimising cost, and facilitating regulatory interaction.

As the first diving company to specialise in services to nuclear plants, UCC has set a standard for safety, reliability and costeffectiveness industry has come to expect.

OPINION

PowerPolitics “WE URGENTLY NEED TO MAKE PROGRESS ON OUR FUTURE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EU, AND CAN ILL AFFORD TO SEE KEY PLAYERS DISTRACTED” As I pen this column, scandal is threatening to overwhelm Parliament with multiple allegations of sexual harassment, some trivial but others very serious, emerging almost daily.

Like the expenses scandal, this will inevitably lead to a clean out of the Augean stables, resulting in a new and better parliamentary culture. But in the meantime, as in 2009, there will be resignations, sackings and retirements, with an as yet unpredictable impact on all political parties.

Given the massive challenges facing the UK, the timing is unfortunate to say the least.

With the UK exiting the European Union in March 2019 we urgently need to make progress on our future relationship with the EU, and can ill afford to see key players distracted.

Theresa May’s Florence speech a few weeks ago was a helpful step forward in setting a more constructive tone with the EU27. But, with no agreement yet on the ‘divorce settlement’ we need to build on this, and persuade the other side to discuss what happens after we leave.

The current deafening silence, including the proposal of a two year implementation period, is leading to real uncertainty across industry. Given the major repercussions from a no deal Brexit, the longer this goes on the more likely investment decisions will be put on hold to the detriment of both industry and the country.

That said, the government has made some progress with domestic legislation to enable Brexit to go ahead, but again this has not gone entirely smoothly.

The EU Withdrawal Bill passed its second reading in September, but immediately afterwards an unprecedented number of amendments were tabled on such key issues as the so-called Henry VIII powers, and the need for Parliament having a final say.

Since some of these were from Conservative backbenchers it is only now, in mid-November, that the Bill has finally reached its Committee stage, and there will be many controversies ahead.

Focusing on nuclear, the (less contentious) Nuclear Safeguards Bill which will create the legal framework to enable the Office for Nuclear Regulation to take on safeguarding inspections received its second reading in October, and is now being considered by the Commons Public Bill Committee.

Tom Greatrex provided oral evidence to the Committee noting the industry’s support for the Bill as a necessary step to create a UK safeguarding regime, but also emphasising this was just one hurdle of what is required to put a domestic safeguards regime in place.

Industry has major concerns about the amount of work that needs to be done before we leave Euratom, not least the time needed to recruit new inspectors and negotiate new Nuclear Co-operation Agreements (NCAs) with key markets. This is the reason we have argued so strongly to remain in Euratom, and if this is not possible, for realistic transition arrangements.

Quite simply, failure to establish in time an operational domestic safeguards regime, compliant with international standards, will have consequences across the whole nuclear sector. To maintain confidence, government urgently needs to provide clarity about their detailed thinking and contingency planning for the different outcomes, and in particular their timeline for meeting each of their Euratom targets.

Brexit apart, the government has found time to make some energy relevant announcements, including the publication of the Clean Growth Strategy.

It allocates around £500 million to R&D and innovation in the nuclear sector, but more importantly, it recognises a mix of

low carbon technologies will be needed to meet the UK’s carbon budget targets.

A similar point was made in Dieter Helm’s Cost of Energy Review report, which explained the additional costs resulting from significant intermittent plant shows that simplistic strike price comparisons are misleading. As the NIA has long argued, the aim should not be to pit low carbon technologies against each other, but to use a whole system approach to find the best mix.

Helm’s broader conclusion was that the current energy market was not fit for purpose, and should be radically simplified to reduce costs. He suggests a new approach to meeting emission targets, with a greater focus on carbon pricing and much less government intervention – in effect the replacement of much of the current electricity market reform arrangements.

It will now be up to government to respond to these suggestions in consultation with industry, but from industry’s perspective it will be important not to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

The nuclear industry has four developers with plans for major projects that will help secure the UK’s energy policy and climate objectives and bring enormous benefits to the economy.

These are long term capital intensive projects that require significant investment over a long timeframe, and this will not be forthcoming without policy stability.

PETER HASLAM Head of Policy, NIA peter.haslam@niauk.org

2017 | WINTER — 29

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