The Road to Hinkley Point C

NDA calls for innovative supply chain

ON THE NUCLEAR RESEARCH ROAD IN THE US

CYBER SECURITY

18

2

16

22

NEW BUILD TAKES

A STEP FORWARD: HINKLEY POINT C WILL CREATE 25,000 JOBS AND GENERATE 7% OF

THE UK’S ELECTRICITY. CONNECTED WITH CURRENT OPERATIONS AND

DECOMMISSIONING, THE NUCLEAR RENAISSANCE IS WELL AND TRULY

UNDERWAY, REPRESENTING A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UK SUPPLY

CHAIN AND IMPORTANTLY NIA MEMBERS.

MAGAZINE OF THE UK NUCLEAR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

NIA.ORG WINTER / 2015

VISIT US AT STAND 15

Editor - Alastair Evans Art Editor - Dan Powney

Contributors - Rupert Lewis, Peter Haslam, Sara Crane, Alexander Bending, Stephen Bray – NuGeneration Ltd, David Mowat MP, Helen Grundy – Horizon Nuclear Power, Megan Savage – Sellafield Limited, Dr Jonathan Cobb – World Nuclear Association, Ian Bonnett – Davies Nuclear Associates, Adrian Bull – National Nuclear Laboratory, Andrew Moore – Human Performance and Leadership Ltd, with additional thanks to World Nuclear News

Welcome to the final IndustryLink of 2015. Many of you will be reading this at our annual conference - #Nuclear – and we hope the event continues to provide the information, networking and opportunities at this busy time. Since the last edition of the magazine, the EDF Energy team has secured further agreements with its Chinese partners and the UK Government to take the Hinkley Point C project one step closer, with the Final Investment Decision (FID) set to follow. Securing FID will release a number of contracts for the UK, the vital first step in re-energising our nuclear new build sector. In this edition of the magazine we take a look at the progress being made by all of the developers, Adrian Bull takes us on a tour of the American nuclear sector and David Mowat the MP for Warrington updates us on the Nuclear All Party Group activity. I would like to thank all of those that have contributed material to the magazine over the past year, as well as the advertisers and the readership. This is your industry magazine – we are always keen to talk to you about content and receive your feedback so please do get in touch. We have a very exciting 2016 in front of us for new build, decommissioning and existing operations and we look forward to highlighting all of your successes throughout the year.

NUGEN SHARES EARLY FEEDBACK FROM MOORSIDE CONSULTATION

Corrections

The NIA apologises for the following errors in the autumn edition of Industry Link. On page 2 Doosan Babcock was missed out of the joint venture with Axima Concept and Tunzini Nucleaire to supply heating, ventilation and air conditioning to Hinkley Point C. On page 14 it was incorrectly stated that Moorside will supply 70% of electricity, this should have read 7%. Both errors have been corrected in the online edition which you can read at www.niauk.org/industry-link.

Cov

er im

age:

Cou

rtes

y of

ED

F E

nerg

y —

ww

w.e

dfen

ergy

.com

/ nu

clea

r-ne

w-b

uild

-pro

ject

s/hi

nkle

y-po

int-

c

Welcome to IndustryLink

PAGE 5

PAGE 21

PAGE 14Alastair Evans Alastair.Evans@niauk.org IN VIEW

VISITNIAUK.ORG

This magazine is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, using vegetable based inks.

Nuclear Industry Association is a company limited by guarantee registered in England No. 2804518

Registered Office5th FloorTower House 10 Southampton Street London WC2E 7HATEL +44(0)20 7766 6640EMAIL info@niauk.org

Press EnquiriesSara.Crane@niauk.orgTEL 07803 696 786

Advertisement EnquiriesRupert.Lewis@niauk.orgTEL 020 7766 6642

Membership EnquiriesNikki.Powney@niauk.orgTEL 020 7766 6651

Follow us: @NIAUK

The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) is the trade association and representative voice of the UK’s civil nuclear industry. We represent over 60,000 UK nuclear workers across more than 260 member companies.

NUCLEARSOUTH WESTLAUNCH

SNAPSHOT

2 — WINTER | 2015

The Chinese Premiere, Xi Jinping visited Britain in October to secure a swathe of deals with UK industry – including on Hinkley Point C. On 21 October EDF and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) signed a Strategic Investment Agreement for the construction and operation of the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. Under the Strategic Investment Agreement, EDF’s share in Hinkley Point C will be 66.5% and CGN’s will be 33.5%. Without reducing this initial stake below 50%, EDF intends in due course to bring other investors into the project. EDF and CGN have also agreed the Heads of Terms of a wider UK partnership for the joint development of new nuclear power stations at Sizewell in Suffolk and Bradwell in Essex. The Chinese party will form a new organisation – General Nuclear International (GNI) for this and future investments in the UK. Once agreement has been secured on the following four requirements, EDF will be in a position to make its Final Investment Decision (FID);

→ Finalisation of long form documentation based on Head of Terms agreed on 21 October

→ Finalisation by EDF of its financing plan

→ Approval by the boards of EDF and CGN

→ Clearance by merger control and other governmental authorities in China and Europe.

This is a hugely positive step forward and gives some certainty to the supply chain that contracts will follow on the back of these announcements. EDF Energy has already committed to procuring 60% of the project by value in the UK – a huge boost for the nuclear supply chain.

EDF and CGN have jointly signed a Heads of Terms agreement (in principle) to undertake the Generic Design Assessment for a UK version of the Hualong HPR1000 reactor – based on plant under construction in China. The Energy Secretary Amber Rudd MP welcomed the progress on Hinkley Point C commenting:

“ The UK is open for business and this is a good deal for everyone – Hinkley Point C will continue to meet our robust safety regulations and will power nearly six million households with low-carbon energy”

She made clear in her party conference address of the Conservative party’s desire to deliver on energy infrastructure,

“ …the Chancellor and I were in China recently, pushing for international investment in our nuclear infrastructure… ...I’m delighted that the new National Infrastructure Commission, announced by the Chancellor today, will look at energy as part of its work to identify the investment our economy needs for long-term success.”

This was reinforced by Rudd’s junior Minister Andrea Leadsom MP on the fringe circuit who talked of a fleet of new reactors being delivered by this administration. To that end, Horizon and NuGeneration continue to work with their reactor vendors to progress their reactors through the rigorous Generic Design Process – the same process that a Chinese reactor will have to complete if it is to be deployed in the UK.

The Road to Hinkley Point C

All

imag

es: C

ourt

esy

of E

DF

Ene

rgy

— w

ww

.edf

ener

gy.c

om

2015 | WINTER — 3

“TODAY MARKS A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR EDF’S 30 YEAR

PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CHINESE PARTNER CGN...I AM CONFIDENT THAT

OUR EXPERIENCE AND ABILITY MEAN WE WILL SUCCESSFULLY DELIVER HINKLEY POINT C AND SUBSEQUENT PROJECTS. ”

JEAN-BERNARD LÉVY

CHAIRMAN EDF

“THIS IS A TRIPLE-WIN FOR THE EXISTING NUCLEAR

ENERGY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CHINA, FRANCE AND THE UK. CGN IS HIGHLY COMMITTED TO DELIVERING

SAFE, COST EFFICIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND TO SUPPORTING THE

UK’S GOAL OF BECOMING A LOW-CARBON SOCIETY.”

HE YU

CHAIRMAN CGN

@edfehinkleyc: We've got 1980 suppliers registered on our #Hinkley - can you help us make it to 2000? hinkleysupplychain.co.uk

@edfehinkleyc: #Hinkley Point C will contribute substantially to the Somerset economy over its lifetime #bit.ly/1Kqb90r

WILL BE PUT INTO THE

DURING PEAK CONSTRUCTION

PER YEARREGIONALECONOMY

£100 MILLION

4 — WINTER | 2015

The Strategic Investment Agreement (SIA) between EDF and its Chinese partners to build Hinkley Point C means its preferred bidders for contracts for the development can gear up for action. Around 60% of the contract value will go to UK based companies, as part of consortia or joint ventures. Four contracts were finalised when the SIA was signed and the others are expected when the Final Investment Decision is taken. Doosan Babcock has a long history of working with EDF Energy, and in 2014 signed a Lifetime Enterprise Agreement to extend the life of seven of its eight nuclear power stations across the UK. Under the ACTAN consortium (Doosan Babcock, Cofely Axima and Tunzini Nucleaire), it has been selected as a preferred bidder to provide heating, ventilation and air conditioning at Hinkley Point. “This opportunity is of key importance to us and our highly skilled team is already relishing the prospect of working on such a significant UK infrastructure project with its ACTAN partners,” said Douglas McQueen, Director of Nuclear Major Projects at Doosan Babcock. Doosan plans to use lessons learned from across its business to work on Hinkley, “As well as looking at lessons from UK and international projects, we are actively engaging with our French partners to understand key lessons from the Flamanville 3 EPR to ensure these are fed in directly to the Hinkley project,” continued McQueen. Doosan Babcock has a highly successful heritage dating back to the 1950s and its operations span the nuclear lifecycle. It has a strong focus of developing the skills of its workforce to meet the challenges ahead. “The new build programme will face multiple challenges as it moves forward” said McQueen. “One of the key areas will be any potential contract overlap, which could impact the resource pool. We have an industry-recognised graduate and apprenticeship training programme and have identified areas of skill, resource and supply chain development, not just within Somerset, but around Wylfa too. This will mean Doosan Babcock has the skills required to deliver nuclear new build, but also leave behind a lasting legacy within the local community.”

Media Watch

In the weeks leading up to the visit of the Chinese President, Chancellor George Osborne announced a £2 billion Government guarantee for Hinkley Point C. Keith Parker appeared on the BBC News Channel and Adam Boulton’s Sky News Tonight programme to discuss the implications of the guarantee and the wider economic importance of the Hinkley Point C project. Keith was also interviewed at the launch of Nuclear South West by BBC Points West to discuss the impact Hinkley Point will have on Somerset and the surrounding local economies.

Keith Parker responded to an article in The Guardian, which challenged the costs and delays to the Hinkley Point C project. In his letter, Keith explained that Hinkley Point C is comparable to other low-carbon technologies and provides reliable electricity which is needed to support intermittent renewables.

On the day of the signing of the Strategic Investment Agreement between EDF Energy and its Chinese partners for Hinkley Point C, the NIA took part in a number of media interviews. NIA Chairman, Lord Hutton spoke about the announcement on BBC Breakfast and Keith Parker was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live and Sky News as well as a host of regional radio stations.

NIA Head of Policy, Peter Haslam was interviewed live on BBC Radio Cumbria about the proposed UK-China Joint Research and Innovation Centre. Peter explained that the NIA welcomed the Centre as an opportunity to create jobs and develop skills in both China and the UK. The UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory leads on the centre and you can find out more on page 14.

Channel 4’s Science Editor, Tom Clarke reported on the science behind an alternative approach to the decommissioning of one of the high hazard legacy plants at Sellafield. Stakeholder Relations Director, Rory O’Neill was interviewed on the news programme and explained the innovation will save time and money as well as making the programme of work safer.

Lord Hutton emphasised the importance of finding the right balance for the UK’s energy mix in an article published in the Daily Telegraph. He addressed the cost of new nuclear and the Strike Price for Hinkley Point C explaining that while costs for renewables are reportedly falling, “reports have failed to mention the need to pay for back-up gas power should the wind stop blowing or the sun stop shining.”

Following a briefing from the Science Media Centre, the BBC News website published a story focusing on the UK’s plutonium stockpile. The article entitled ‘Energy in the bank’, focused on the 140 tonnes of plutonium stored at Sellafield and discussed the options for Government. The Governments preferred option is to use it as fuel and there are currently three types of reactor which would allow the plutonium to be used as fuel – MOX, PRISM and CANDU.

NEWSNEWSNEWS

Doosan Babcock ready for action on Hinkley Point C

Douglas McQueen, Director of Nuclear Major Projects at Doosan Babcock.

2015 | WINTER — 5

NuGen shares early feedback from Moorside consultationBY. STEPHEN BRAY ⁄ NUGENERATION LTD

By any measure, with 24 public events, visited by more than 1,800 people and generating over 750 submissions, NuGen’s 10-week public consultation about the Moorside Project can be regarded as a success. Between them, the NuGen team members spent around 2,300 hours in village halls, hotel suites and tea rooms up and down West Cumbria and in the larger population centres in the rest of the county, talking to local people about NuGen’s proposals. As the responses were analysed, it became clear that over 73 % were supportive of the Moorside Project. It is a fantastic validation of NuGen’s selection of West Cumbria as a site and anecdotally, the NuGen team maintains that the support from those attending the consultation events was even higher. “Overwhelmingly, people are supportive of the need for a new nuclear power station,” said John McNamara, NuGen’s Head of Corporate Communications. “They saw the benefits to the region’s employment, skills, economy and supply chain as being the most important factors.” The intention of the first, ‘strategic issues’ consultation was to get the broad issues on the table, talking to the local communities so that they have every opportunity to understand, inform and challenge the big picture. “The feedback was very clear,” added John. “There are a number of other benefits people want the project to deliver, with improved transport infrastructure – specifically road improvements – at the forefront of people’s concerns.” Other benefits that people found important included improvements to health services – particularly to manage the arrival of such a large temporary workforce; while support for a rail-focussed transport strategy was high, with a strong preference that specially-built rail stations would be retained for the benefit of the community. As can be expected, employment and training for local people were high on the wish list, while there was similarly strong support for using local businesses in the Moorside supply chain. There was support for the strategy of locating accommodation for the temporary construction workforce close to, or within, existing settlements and that multiple sites are used for these associated developments. The visual impact of the project was important to those who gave feedback, in particular, using excavated soil to enhance the natural landscape. Though limited, there were responses from groups opposed to nuclear power; while from supporters, opponents and neutrals alike, there was interest in how NuGen would minimise the local environmental impact, concerns about waste and a perceived lack of clarity on disposal, and questions about the impact on emergency procedures. “We look forward to returning to those village halls next year, in the spring and summer to demonstrate how we’ve listened to what people have had to say, and to answer the questions that they have asked of us,” added John. NuGen continues to develop its proposals, using the consultation feedback and will hold the second stage of the public consultation from May to July 2016.

6 — WINTER | 2015

Swedish reactor decommissioning continuesPlant operator Barsebäck Kraft AB signed a contract with Westinghouse to continue decommissioning the two-unit Barsebäck plant in Sweden. Westinghouse will dismantle, segment and package the reactor pressure vessel internals for final disposal. To achieve this, remotely-controlled underwater mechanical cutting techniques will be utilised. The four year project aims to start mechanical segmentation by 2016. The two reactors shut down in 1999 and 2005 respectively due to political pressure from Denmark. All of the nuclear fuel has already been removed and all major parts, including the pressure vessel, will be dismantled and removed before the buildings themselves are dismantled. Westinghouse has previously been contracted to perform dismantling work in Germany, France and Spain.

First criticality for two reactors in ChinaTwo new Chinese nuclear power units - Changjiang 1 and Yangjiang 3 - have moved closer to commissioning by achieving a sustained chain reaction for the first time. Both reactors are expected to begin operating later this year.

Unit 1 of Changjiang nuclear power plant, under construction on China's southern island province of Hainan, achieved first criticality, China National Nuclear Corporation announced. The loading of the 121 fuel assemblies into the core of Changjiang 1, a 650 MWe CNP-600 pressurized water reactor, began in August and the unit is scheduled to begin operating by the end of 2015, with unit 2 set to start up next year. The plant will eventually comprise four units, with units 3 and 4 housing either CNP-650 or ACP-600 reactors. Construction of both those units is scheduled to begin by 2018. This came just a day after the same milestone at unit 3 of China General Nuclear's Yangjiang plant. Six units are planned for the site in Guangdong. The first four units are 1080 MWe CPR-1000 pressurized water reactors, with units 5 and 6 being ACPR-1000s. All six reactors should be operational by 2019, producing a total of around 6100 MWe.

US material testing facility upgradeA $3 million upgrade of the Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory (MIBL) will enable radiation damage testing to be performed much quicker than previously possible. Such tests will help in the life extension of existing reactors and in the development of advanced reactor designs. Irradiating materials in research reactors to study their resistance to

radiation damage can take decades, the University of Michigan said. Analysis of irradiated materials can take several years. An upgrade of the MIBL can speed up the process so that the radiation part takes about a day and analysis can be done in just a few weeks. Until now, the laboratory could only aim a single beam at the target material. However, with the addition of a third accelerator and the ability to steer all three beams at one target, it can now produce the full range of radiation damage seen in reactors. The upgrade of the MIBL was made possible as part of a $5 million grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) for studying radiation damage and further DOE support through Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Bolivia to build nuclear research centreA $300 million nuclear technology research and development centre will be constructed in El Alto, Bolivia with Russian assistance. The project will take four years to complete and some South American countries, like Argentina, will participate. The project will include: a cyclotron radiotherapy facility, a multi-purpose gamma radiation facility and a nuclear research reactor. This comes after the Bolivian President, Evo Morales, said the country would invest more than $2 billion in nuclear energy over the next decade.

1

4

2

3

4

2

3

1

For

mor

e d

etai

ls o

n th

ese

and

oth

er s

tori

es p

leas

e vi

sit

ww

w.w

orld

-nuc

lear

-new

s.or

g

2015 | WINTER — 7

A view of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy

ollowing the General Election in May, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Nuclear Energy

lost its former chair, John Robertson MP. The group was reconstituted under new chairmanship, with a new group of officers who have since been proactively driving the group forward. I was honoured to be elected as its Co-Chair alongside my fellow Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, the Member of Parliament for Bridgwater and West Somerset. We are ably supported by three Labour Vice-Chairs in Jamie Reed the MP for Copeland, Sue Hayman the MP for Workington and Albert Owen the MP for Ynys Môn. The APPG exists as a forum to discuss issues around the current and future state of the civil nuclear industry, encompassing current operations, decom- missioning and new nuclear build. It helps inform interested MPs and Peers about nuclear energy, providing them with a ready supply of facts, figures and arguments which they can use to inform legislation and policy-making in Whitehall. Our inaugural meeting was a dinner specifically for APPG members, where we heard from guest speakers Paul Spence from EDF Energy, Jon Phillips from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Keith Parker from the Nuclear Industry Association. We’ve since held subsequent meetings to discuss the future of decom-missioning and the potential of Small Modular Reactors. Next year we are planning fact-finding missions to a number of nuclear sites including Sellafield, Hinkley Point and EDF’s Flamanville reactor on the Cherbourg peninsular.

One of the interesting things about nuclear energy is that it is an issue which cuts across the political spectrum. It is true to say that the Conservative Party is the most pro-nuclear of the main political parties, but some of my party colleagues are firmly opposed to it. Labour is split on the issue – although its backbenches seem more enthusiastic than its frontbench colleagues. The SNP is opposed to new reactors, but is happy for those currently operating to see out their operational lives. Only the Green Party is implacably opposed to nuclear. And of course, there are many MPs who have reactors or key nuclear supply-chain industries in, or close to, their constituencies. For instance, my APPG colleague Dr Paul Monaghan is a Scottish National Party MP, but his Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross constituency includes Dounreay – so future developments, particularly around decommissioning, are of great importance to many of his constituents. The APPG should be one of the key channels of communication between the nuclear industry and Parliament. If there is an issue you would like brought to the groups attention, please do feel free to contact me or another members of the group.

DAVID MOWAT MP Co-Chair APPG on Nuclear Energy david.mowat.mp@parliament.uk

F

Pos

tcar

ds a

nd P

arlia

men

t © D

an P

owne

y

8 — WINTER | 2015

Since its conception in 2009, Horizon Nuclear Power has looked to engage with the local education community around our Wylfa Newydd site on Anglesey. Wylfa Newydd will provide a real legacy to Anglesey and North Wales. When it’s up and running, the station will need hundreds of people to run it – and our supply chain partners will also need workers to support them on the project – creating opportunities across North Wales. The project has the capacity to transform the area for generations and young people studying and learning now have a world of opportunity ahead of them. In 2014 we appointed a dedicated Education Programme Coordinator, to develop and deliver an education programme that supports the national curriculum, highlights the exciting career opportunities available in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM subjects) and engages with children and young people right the way through their education. We developed the framework for our programme, with input from education stakeholders across North Wales, with three key aims: to inspire young people in STEM subjects; engage with them about the career opportunities Wylfa Newydd will bring; and equip them with key employability skills. Building on this, we are already supporting schools and colleges across Anglesey and North Wales. Where possible, we are partnering with organisations already involved in educational work. One project we have been involved with since 2014 is Bangor University’s Profi Programme. The Profi programme aims to develop the personal and employability skills of school leavers and provide opportunities for sixth formers to engage with student mentors from the University. The programme also supports students working towards the Welsh Baccalaureate. In addition, we provide funding for Cwmni Prentis Menai, the community apprenticeship scheme, and attend careers events across the region, including the Big Bang Cymru fair in Venue Cymru – one of the largest STEM events in Wales.

Other recent activities include sponsoring Year 8 pupils and their families on Anglesey and in Gwynedd to take part in the ‘STEM family challenge’ an event designed to inspire them through fun, hands-on activities which demonstrate how studying STEM subjects can lead to exciting and fulfilling career paths. Organised by the Reaching Wider North and Mid Wales Partnership, the Engineering Development Trust and Techniquest Glyndŵr, the initiative receives great feedback from those involved. Much of our education programme is about getting out and engaging with children and their families. The Horizon Education Team played a large part in the company’s presence at the Anglesey Show this summer, where children were encouraged to conduct simple scientific experiments. More than 500 fruit batteries were made over the two days of the Show and children voted for the names of the characters in Horizon’s unique bilingual sticker books which demonstrate where energy comes from. But our attentions are not just focused on Anglesey. Earlier this year we teamed up with STEMworks, a not-for-profit organisation running workshops in schools, to inspire young people in STEM subjects. A number of computer control workshops developing problem-solving skills in a fun and interactive way will be piloted in several South Gloucestershire schools near our second site at Oldbury and our corporate headquarters. Fostering strong links between the company and schools, colleges and other educational organisations highlights the sort of skills we will need to build and operate our stations through STEM subjects. The uptake also, importantly, enables students to become skilled in an area that can provide long-term employment where they live. We have lots more to deliver and over the next 12 months will further develop our outreach programme for primary and secondary schools and look for more opportunities to get involved with schools in the communities we operate within.

Engaging in EducationBY. HELEN GRUNDY ⁄ HORIZON NUCLEAR POWER

2015 | WINTER — 9

DELIVERING FIRST CLASS INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS Assystem, the preferred engineering consultancy.

www.assystem.com

E&I@assystemuk.com

@NuclearUK

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENTDECOMMISSIONINGWASTE MANAGEMENTPLANT LIFE EXTENSIONNUCLEAR NEW BUILDOPTIONEERINGINNOVATION

VISIT US AT STAND 21

10 — WINTER | 2015

After 44 years the last operational Magnox station in the world prepares to switch off

2015 | WINTER — 11

END OF AN ERA

adly on New Year’s Eve this year Wylfa’s Reactor 2, on Anglesey, will shut down for the last time. This is the final Magnox

reactor to shut down, ending an exceptional era in the UKs nuclear history. As the last Magnox reactor to be built it started feeding electricity to the grid in 1971 and has continued supplying the UK with low carbon energy for 44 years. To highlight its contribution to electricity generation, with both 460 MW reactors running Wylfa could meet 40% of Wales’ electricity demand. Over its life the station has generated 232 TWh of electricity, equivalent to burning 110 million tonnes of coal.

Named after their fuel cladding, Magnox reactors are almost unique in the world because they use a natural uranium fuel combined with a graphite moderator and are cooled by carbon dioxide. As one of the world’s first civil nuclear power f leets they have been hugely successful. Its successor, the Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor f leet, are still in service in the UK.

Wylfa has achieved much over its lifetime, undoubtedly due to its highly-skilled work force. From 1990 to 1992, Reactor 1 was the best performing reactor in the world in terms of energy availability. In 1991, due to its size, it was the first UK nuclear power station to produce 100TWh of electrical energy. In 1992 it also set the world record for the fastest statutory overhaul of Reactor 2. The plant has also achieved 12 Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Gold Awards and has been presented a Platinum Award from the Welsh Government for health and safety standards. Decommissioning of the Wylfa site will begin in 2016 with the aim of returning the 28 hectare site to its original state in the early 2100s. When the reactor shuts down, defueling will begin and all spent fuel will be sent to Sellafield for reprocessing. Magnox Ltd hopes to enter the care and maintenance stage in 2025, to allow radiation levels to decay naturally, thus enabling simpler and more cost-effective decommissioning. All is not lost for Anglesey as Horizon Nuclear Power aims to build three Advanced Boiling Water Reactors (ABWRs), at Wylfa Newydd, near the Magnox site. Wylfa Newydd will produce 2.7 GW, enough low carbon energy to power around five million homes. This will ensure Anglesey is a centre of clean energy generation well into the future. Recently the ABWR design entered the final stage of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA). After the GDA specific site and environmental licences must be attained before development can begin. The company aims to start supplying electricity to the grid in the first half of 2020s.

S

“ It is with some sadness that generation is coming to an end. The Wylfa Site has been a fantastic success and a credit to those involved through its life, as well as a good neighbour and great employer. We now face a new challenge to defuel the site safely, compliantly and efficiently.”

Stuart Law Wylfa Site Director

All

imag

es: C

ourt

esy

of M

agno

x Li

mit

ed —

ww

w.m

agno

xsit

es.c

om

12 — WINTER | 2015

Megan SavageSellafield Ltd

There is not much to compare with London and Sellafield. Grey block buildings and smog versus rolling hills and clean air; a sea of retail chains and grumpy faces up against independent shops and cheerful smiles. In fact when I put it like that I’m not sure why I came back! Immersing myself in the Sellafield machine was an opportunity I was desperate not to miss and it gave me the chance to join a proactive media team working incredibly hard to change the perception of Europe’s most hazardous site. On a tour of the site, I witnessed first-hand how hard Sellafield workers are working on clean-up. Driving and walking around the vast complex it was immediately apparent how seriously each individual takes their work and how proud they are to be working at Sellafield. From the security guard, to the tour guide, the apprentices, receptionists, engineers and the poor lady who did her very best to make me look vaguely normal (see below) - the pride and thrill to be at work was written on all of their faces. Sellafield is a series of enormous projects and the size of the task in hand is daunting but progress on site was plain to see. If you work in the nuclear industry and haven’t been to the site I would certainly recommend a visit. During the week I had the chance to attend the Cumbrian Business Awards which gave me the opportunity to escape the Sellafield nuclear bubble for an evening and sit next to creator of ‘Chimney Sheep’, a brand I still haven’t fully grasped… Back in Sellafield and spending time with a number of recently graduated apprentices it was clear why the company has an award-winning scheme. All of them were supremely confident and desperate to begin their careers as newly qualified nuclear professionals. Ultimately witnessing first-hand how complex the various challenges are at Sellafield and how important the nuclear industry is to Cumbria was brilliant. The nuclear-powered culture was evident from day one and I learnt an enormous amount about how media forms an integral part of the overall strategy for a business. I would like to say a huge thank you to Ruth Hutchison, Matt Legg and Darren Ennis, primarily for putting up with me without complaining and for taking time out to make me feel so welcome all week.

When the idea of a job swap between Rupert and myself was first put on the table I was over the moon. I recognised it would be an opportunity for me to grow both personally and professionally so I jumped at the chance of being part of the NIA for a week. The week lived up to all of my expectations; between spending time talking about Small Modular Reactors in the House of Commons to managing communications around the Hinkley Point C announcement, kept me on my toes and introduced to a new side of the nuclear industry I hadn’t yet explored. One of the best parts of the week was being able to spend time with Sara, the NIA’s PR and Media Manager. An inspiring individual, Sara is someone I feel I can relate to and gain a lot from. As a young female at the start of my career ladder, she gave me a lot of useful advice which I can use to go forward and mould my own future. I believe the opportunity has opened my horizons, given me a greater knowledge of the wider nuclear industry and helped me gain more confidence and skills, which will help my personal development as a communicator for the nuclear industry. The swap has also been beneficial for our companies too. Rupert and I have been able to transfer knowledge and build a stronger relationship between Sellafield Ltd and the NIA, so together we can promote a better understanding of the nuclear industry in the public, media and political spheres.

Job Swap>>

For one week in October Rupert Lewis, NIA’s Communications Executive, and Megan Savage, Sellafield Ltd’s Media Officer swapped jobs to gain an insight into working in a different part of the industry. Here, both tell their story.

Rupert LewisNuclear Industry Association

2015 | WINTER — 13

9–11 April 2014, Manchester, UK

Save £100

Sustainable Nuclear Energy Conference12–14 April 2016, Nottingham, UK

ADVANCING

WORLDWIDE

C H E M I CA LENGINEERING

Early bird registration available until 18 December

Register at www.icheme.org/snec2016

C0404_15

C0404_15 SNEC Nuclear Connect EarlyBird HP AD.indd 1 08/09/2015 12:03

The UNFCCC COP 21 meeting in Paris later this year is set to be a key event for galvanising international action to address climate change. The negotiations are likely to focus on reaching agreement on greenhouse gas emissions reductions and the roles to be played by developed and developing nations. How countries make those emissions reductions will largely be a matter for national policy, including energy policy. But COP 21 will still be important for nuclear energy. In addition to the negotiations themselves the COP meetings have become a focus for a broader dialogue on how to tackle climate change. It is important that nuclear energy is seen as part of the solution. The Nuclear for Climate initiative brings together over 120 nuclear societies

representing their individual members. In addition, World Nuclear Association, along with other trade associations including NIA, have joined the initiative. Nuclear for Climate aims to highlight the vital contribution nuclear energy has made to mitigation of climate change and the growing contribution it can make in the future. The importance of nuclear energy has been made clear by recent publications of the OECD IEA/NEA. Their 2DS two degree scenario includes 930 GWe of nuclear capacity by 2050, the largest contribution made by an individual low carbon tech-nology. Furthermore, nuclear is expected to take up the slack should other low carbon forms of generation fall short. To reach a global nuclear capacity of 930 GWe, or possibly more, by 2050 will require acceleration in the rate of new

nuclear build back to the peak levels seen in the 1980s. But it is achievable, and it will be vital if we are to protect our global environment.

DR JONATHAN COBB World Nuclear Association

www.facebook.com/NuclearforClimate

https://twitter.com/Nuclear4Climate

www.sfen.org/en/nuclear-for-climate

www.scoop.it/t/nuclear-for-climate

14 — WINTER | 2015

Ph

ase

3 C

ell B

acks

, cou

rtes

y of

Nat

iona

l Nuc

lear

Lab

orat

ory

— w

ww

.nnl

.co.

uk

2015 | WINTER — 15

Chancellor George Osborne’s recent visit to China saw a number of announcements linked to the nuclear industry. One of these was the news that there will be a new UK-China Joint Research and Innovation Centre (JRIC), jointly led by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) and the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). The UK and China have jointly committed £50M to the Centre over a five year period. The Centre will act as a portal to allow UK companies and academic organisations and their Chinese counterparts to work together on areas of mutual benefit and will support the development of Subject Matter Experts and others with higher level skill in both countries. Projects will encompass a number of different areas of work across the whole nuclear fuel cycle.

UK-China Joint Research and Innovation Centre

IN VIEW

16 — WINTER | 2015

0101010001101000011001010010000001010100011010000111001001100101011000010111010000100000011011110110011000100000010001110110000101101001011011100110100101101110011001110010000001000101011011100110010101110010011001110111100100100000010100110110010101100011011101010111001001101001011101000111100100111010001000000100000100100000011000110110111101101110011100110110100101100100011001010111001001100101011001000010000001110110011010010110010101110111001000000110111101100110001000000100001101101000011010010110111001100101011100110110010100100000011100000110000101110010011101000110100101100011011010010111000001100001011101000110100101101111011011100010000001101001011011100010000001101110011001010111011100100000011011100111010101100011011011000110010101100001011100100000101001001001011000010110111000100000010000100110111101101110011011100110010101110100011101000010110000100000010001000110100101110010011001010110001101110100011011110111001000100000111000101000000010010011001000000100010001001110010000010010000001000101011011100110010101110010011001110111100100101100001000000100001101101000011000010110100101110010001000000110111101100110001000000100111001001001010000010010000001010111011011110111001001101011011010010110111001100111001000000100011101110010011011110111010101110000001000000110111101101110001000000100001101111001011000100110010101110010011100110110010101100011011101010111001001101001011101000111100100101100001000000110000101101110011001000010000001001101011001010110110101100010011001010111001000100000011011110110011000100000010101110110111101110010011011000110010000100000010010010110111001110011011101000110100101110100011101010111010001100101001000000110011001101111011100100010000001001110011101010110001101101100011001010110000101110010001000000101001101100101011000110111010101110010011010010111010001111001001011000010000000110010001100000010000001001111011000110111010001101111011000100110010101110010001000000011001000110000001100010011010100001010010100000110111101110111011001010111001000100000011010010111001100100000011000010010000001110100011100100111010101101100011110010010000001100111011011000110111101100010011000010110110000100000011011010110000101110010011010110110010101110100001011100010000001000101011011100111001101110101011100100110100101101110011001110010000001100001001000000111001101110101011100110111010001100001011010010110111001100001011000100110110001100101001011000010000001110011011001010110001101110101011100100110010100100000011100110111010101110000011100000110110001111001001000000110111101100110001000000110001101101100011001010110000101101110001000000110010101101110011001010111001001100111011110010010000001100110011011110111001000100000011101000110100001100101001000000101010101001011001000000110100101110011001000000111011001101001011101000110000101101100001011000010000001110111011010010111010001101000001000000110111101110110011001010111001000101101011100100110010101101100011010010110000101101110011000110110010100100000011011110110111000100000011010010110110101110000011011110111001001110100011001010110010000100000011100110111010101110000011100000110110001101001011001010111001100100000011100000110111101110011011010010110111001100111001000000111001101101001011001110110111001101001011001100110100101100011011000010110111001110100001000000110010101100011011011110110111001101111011011010110100101100011001000000110000101101110011001000010000001110000011011110110110001101001 0111010001101001011000110110000101101100001000000111001001101001011100110110101101110011 0010111000001010010101000110100001100101001000000101010101001011111000101000000010011001 0111001100100000011100000110110001100001011011100110111001100101011001000010000001110000 011100100110111101100111011100100110000101101101011011010110010100100000011011110110011000100000011011100110010101110111001000000110111001110101011000110110110001100101011000010111001000100000011100000110111101110111011001010111001000100000011100000110110001100001011011100111010001110011001011000010000001110011011101000110000101110010011101000110100101101110011001110010000001110111011010010111010001101000001000000100010101000100010001100010000001000101011011100110010101110010011001110111100111100010100000001001100101110011001000000100100001101001011011100110101101101100011001010111100100100000010100000110111101101001011011100111010000100000010000110010000001110000011100100110111101101010011001010110001101110100001011000010000001110111011010010110110001101100001000000110100001100101011011000111000000100000011011010110100101110100011010010110011101100001011101000110010100100000011101000110100001100101011100110110010100100000011100100110100101110011011010110111001100101110001000000010000001000010011101010111010000100000011010000110010101110010011001010010000001101100011010010110010101110011001000000111010001101000011001010010000001110001011101010110000101101110011001000110000101110010011110010010000011100010100000001001001100100000011000110110111101110101011011000110010000100000011100000111001001101111011010100110010101100011011101000111001100100000011011000110100101101011011001010010000001110100011010000110010101110011011001010010000001110101011011100110010001100101011100100110110101101001011011100110010100100000010101010100101100100000011100110

ower is a truly global market. Ensuring a sustainable, secure supply of clean energy for the UK

is vital, with over-reliance on imported supplies posing significant economic and political risks. The UK’s planned programme of new nuclear power plants, starting with EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C project, will help mitigate these risks. But here lies the quandary – could projects like these undermine UK state security itself? The perceived risk to national security arises from the planned Chinese partici-pation in the EDF Energy new build supply chain, culminating (if Hinkley and Sizewell are successful) in a likely Chinese-built reactor at Bradwell in Essex. The primary concern is that ‘back doors’ could be built into the computer control systems that operate parts of the power plants. Such ‘doors’ could theoretically bypass cyber security defences, allowing unregulated third party disruption (or threats) to stations’ operational integrity. This is not an unreasonable concern, highly-skilled cyber ‘warfare’ capability does exist, however unlikely the threat. To put this risk into perspective we need to consider why Chinese companies want to invest and participate in UK new build? The answer is simple; to export to new global markets high-value technology using their huge nuclear supply chain. China’s domestic reactor build capacity dwarfs all but Russia’s capability. China’s current capacity means it can accept up to 10 new orders a year.

P However the UK holds the key to unlocking China’s huge nuclear export opportunity – namely global assurance of quality, safety and security. The UK’s nuclear safety and security regulator (the ONR) is globally respected. The ONR Chief Inspector led the IAEA’s international inspection team to Fukushima. In brief, UK regulatory approval will open European and other markets to the Chinese A second factor is the UK capability to detect and protect itself from cyber attacks. The UK is a global leader in cyber security, with significant experience arising from working closely with the US and protecting the financial sector e.g. CBEST. This capability is found both in the public sector with security services and in the private sector with cyber-clusters being rapidly formed such as the largest one in South Wales. The UK capability is well known globally, particularly amongst those engaged in cyber espionage activity. Thirdly, what benefits would actually be achieved from deploying such ‘backdoors’, given they would most likely be in opera-tional control systems that would simply take a station offline. UK stations have independent hardwired safety systems that ensure safe operation and shutdown. Would the threat of one or two reactors going offline have such a major impact on the UK that it could effectively hold the UK Government to ransom? Against this, what would be the global reputational impact be of such an act on China’s massive export plans? My conclusion is that this is a fairly obscure and limited attack vector; there

are far easier sectors to target which if successful would yield equally damaging consequences without causing such damage to Chinese national interests. Unlocking China’s huge potential nuclear export capability relies, at least in the West, in gaining UK assurance. It seems unlikely given the UK’s unquestionable defensive cyber security capability that China would deem leaving ‘backdoors’ in control systems a risk worth taking. It would take supreme confidence to leave malware on a system knowing it will be thoroughly, in fact exhaustedly inspected, examined and tested by global cybersecurity experts. And if discovered the reputational damage would be devastating, halting plans for Chinese nuclear export expansion. The risks of placing ‘backdoors’ in control systems would far outweigh the benefits. In conclusion, considered analysis suggests the threat to national security of allowing Chinese participation in UK nuclear new build is extremely remote. What is clear however is that working collaboratively and gaining access to China’s extensive experience of building nuclear reactors will accelerate the UK’s goal of achieving energy security, with all the benefits that will bring.

IAN BONNETT Director – Davies Nuclear Associates

The Threat of Gaining Energy Security: A considered view of Chinese participation in new nuclear

2015 | WINTER — 17

0101010001101000011001010010000001010100011010000111001001100101011000010111010000100000011011110110011000100000010001110110000101101001011011100110100101101110011001110010000001000101011011100110010101110010011001110111100100100000010100110110010101100011011101010111001001101001011101000111100100111010001000000100000100100000011000110110111101101110011100110110100101100100011001010111001001100101011001000010000001110110011010010110010101110111001000000110111101100110001000000100001101101000011010010110111001100101011100110110010100100000011100000110000101110010011101000110100101100011011010010111000001100001011101000110100101101111011011100010000001101001011011100010000001101110011001010111011100100000011011100111010101100011011011000110010101100001011100100000101001001001011000010110111000100000010000100110111101101110011011100110010101110100011101000010110000100000010001000110100101110010011001010110001101110100011011110111001000100000111000101000000010010011001000000100010001001110010000010010000001000101011011100110010101110010011001110111100100101100001000000100001101101000011000010110100101110010001000000110111101100110001000000100111001001001010000010010000001010111011011110111001001101011011010010110111001100111001000000100011101110010011011110111010101110000001000000110111101101110001000000100001101111001011000100110010101110010011100110110010101100011011101010111001001101001011101000111100100101100001000000110000101101110011001000010000001001101011001010110110101100010011001010111001000100000011011110110011000100000010101110110111101110010011011000110010000100000010010010110111001110011011101000110100101110100011101010111010001100101001000000110011001101111011100100010000001001110011101010110001101101100011001010110000101110010001000000101001101100101011000110111010101110010011010010111010001111001001011000010000000110010001100000010000001001111011000110111010001101111011000100110010101110010001000000011001000110000001100010011010100001010010100000110111101110111011001010111001000100000011010010111001100100000011000010010000001110100011100100111010101101100011110010010000001100111011011000110111101100010011000010110110000100000011011010110000101110010011010110110010101110100001011100010000001000101011011100111001101110101011100100110100101101110011001110010000001100001001000000111001101110101011100110111010001100001011010010110111001100001011000100110110001100101001011000010000001110011011001010110001101110101011100100110010100100000011100110111010101110000011100000110110001111001001000000110111101100110001000000110001101101100011001010110000101101110001000000110010101101110011001010111001001100111011110010010000001100110011011110111001000100000011101000110100001100101001000000101010101001011001000000110100101110011001000000111011001101001011101000110000101101100001011000010000001110111011010010111010001101000001000000110111101110110011001010111001000101101011100100110010101101100011010010110000101101110011000110110010100100000011011110110111000100000011010010110110101110000011011110111001001110100011001010110010000100000011100110111010101110000011100000110110001101001011001010111001100100000011100000110111101110011011010010110111001100111001000000111001101101001011001110110111001101001011001100110100101100011011000010110111001110100001000000110010101100011011011110110111001101111011011010110100101100011001000000110000101101110011001000010000001110000011011110110110001101001 0111010001101001011000110110000101101100001000000111001001101001011100110110101101110011 0010111000001010010101000110100001100101001000000101010101001011111000101000000010011001 0111001100100000011100000110110001100001011011100110111001100101011001000010000001110000 011100100110111101100111011100100110000101101101011011010110010100100000011011110110011000100000011011100110010101110111001000000110111001110101011000110110110001100101011000010111001000100000011100000110111101110111011001010111001000100000011100000110110001100001011011100111010001110011001011000010000001110011011101000110000101110010011101000110100101101110011001110010000001110111011010010111010001101000001000000100010101000100010001100010000001000101011011100110010101110010011001110111100111100010100000001001100101110011001000000100100001101001011011100110101101101100011001010111100100100000010100000110111101101001011011100111010000100000010000110010000001110000011100100110111101101010011001010110001101110100001011000010000001110111011010010110110001101100001000000110100001100101011011000111000000100000011011010110100101110100011010010110011101100001011101000110010100100000011101000110100001100101011100110110010100100000011100100110100101110011011010110111001100101110001000000010000001000010011101010111010000100000011010000110010101110010011001010010000001101100011010010110010101110011001000000111010001101000011001010010000001110001011101010110000101101110011001000110000101110010011110010010000011100010100000001001001100100000011000110110111101110101011011000110010000100000011100000111001001101111011010100110010101100011011101000111001100100000011011000110100101101011011001010010000001110100011010000110010101110011011001010010000001110101011011100110010001100101011100100110110101101001011011100110010100100000010101010100101100100000011100110

Technology

World-class Exce

llenc

eSecurity

Safety Qua

lity

Expert

Facilities

ProfessionalResearch Programmes

Interna

tiona

l

InnovationScience

Fuel

Engineering

Waste management

Cumbria

Reactors

Job

s

Sellafield

Uranium

Environment

Plutonium

Growth

De

sig

n

Rea

cto

r op

era

tions

Harwell

Partnership

Peo

ple

Go

vernm

ent

Skills

Decommissioning

Business

Thorium

Space

Fukushima

Wo

rkingto

n

Stonehouse

Act

inid

es

Americium

Microscopy

Analysis

Community

Materials

Novel

Modelling

Radiochemistry

Respect

Integrity

What does NNL do?

Everything you need.

Nuclear

National

Laboratory

VISIT US AT STAND 7

18 — WINTER | 2015

On the Nuclear Research Road in the USBY. ADRIAN BULL ⁄ NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY

S

VISIT US AT STAND 7

ince I arrived at NNL almost four years ago, I’d been thinking it would be helpful to see how the US

National Labs carry out their communication and stakeholder engagement work. The opportunity crystallised as I found myself working on plans for both the n-eboc conference in Cumbria and Nuclear Science Week in the US, which took place on successive weeks in October. As an n-eboc sponsor, we were delighted when Todd Allen, Deputy Director at Idaho National Lab (INL), agreed to come to the UK and present at the conference, and in return I travelled over to both INL and Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee to meet my communications and engagement counterparts, see around the Labs and present to their staff about the latest news from the UK nuclear industry. Starting at Idaho, after 24 hours of travelling, I was amazed at the sheer scale of the operation. While the nuclear licensed site at Sellafield measures a mile by a mile and a half, INL’s land area is 890 square miles - the size of Warwickshire or Luxembourg! Most of it is empty space, of course, hence

the stark difference between the decommissioning track records of the US and the UK, as we’ve always needed to decommission old buildings and clear the land on sites like Sellafield before we could build a new plant. As part of the Idaho tour, I got to see the EBR-1 reactor – one of the pioneering pieces of the early nuclear generation jigsaw from the early 1950s. Parked outside that facility were two prototype nuclear reactors being developed for use in aircraft. Thankfully that’s an idea that never took off (and with each of them weighing in at 200 tonnes or so, without shielding, that’s probably the right way to phrase it!). I also got to have some really useful meetings with communications colleagues from INL. Even though I was incredibly jealous of the funding they get from US Government, they still said they felt under-funded. I guess the grass is always greener somewhere. Oak Ridge is a much smaller operation – similar in size and also in the general “look and feel” to a large university campus. It is run by the US Dept of Science, whereas

Idaho’s lab is run by the Department of Energy. As a result, much of the Oak Ridge work is non-nuclear in areas such as neutron physics, high-performance computing and visualisation. I got to experience the “view” inside a reactor core using their 3D spectacles and an amazing VR facility. Plus another of the pioneering nuclear locations – the graphite X-10 reactor which went critical in 1943. On Friday I was panellist for one of the Nuclear Science Week events and beforehand I was interviewed for Knoxville’s local radio. When the presenter found I lived in Manchester, his inevitable first question was whether I’m a United fan! I also attended a Nuclear Science Week “teach the teacher” workshop on the Saturday which included some useful tips which I’ll steal with pride for our own NNL outreach work – not least a demo of the principle of “half life” using chocolate M&Ms! All-in-all it was a really interesting and valuable visit, and my only regret is that it took me so long to make the arrangements to travel over there.

2015 | WINTER — 19

Lord John Hutton, Chairman of the Nuclear Industry Association discussed how Government and industry plan to deliver a stable market for nuclear energy infrastructure projects at the University of Birmingham on 9 November 2015. He informed students and guests at the prestigious energy lecture series that “without power, businesses cannot succeed and grow, and the public cannot go about their everyday lives. Energy isn’t just about keeping the lights on; it impacts our economy, society and ultimately security.” We would benefit as a country if we took a step back and thought about the long term impact. We are polluting the world’s atmosphere with burning fossil fuels; however, we want to solve these issues, without burdening consumers with additional costs. Over the forthcoming decade, it is vital to have the right supply of cheap, low carbon energy. When discussing future nuclear energy projects, Lord Hutton said: “Replacing the UK’s ageing energy infrastructure is a necessity, in order to reduce the use of fossil fuel to address climate change and UK energy supplies. “Scheduled in the 2020s, EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C project will deliver secure and affordable low carbon electricity for the next 60 years. Nuclear is the only proven low-carbon option for providing the expected electricity generation the

UK needs and will save customers money. The project will also bring vast economic boost throughout the country, bringing skilled jobs to those searching for ones in highly skilled and technically advanced industries. “Without the use of new nuclear, we will lose a vital source of reliable, secure low-carbon electricity. By 2030, 40% of current electricity generating capacity will have disappeared, due to coal-fired power stations closing to meet air pollution and carbon reduction targets.” Lord Hutton also highlighted the importance of connecting with the next generation of scientists and engineers, who will inevitably be at the forefront of developing new innovations to address energy challenges. “The University of Birmingham has a history of excellence, especially with regards to nuclear physics and chemistry. One of the benefits of speaking at the University is its positive thought leadership – we can debate and raise concerns and students come away and actually think about the future. “Speaking at the University was a great opportunity to discuss energy policy and connect with students and researchers. They are our future generation and in order to ensure a low carbon future, we must inspire them to make important changes.”

Nuclear is the only proven low-carbon option for providing electricity the UK needs

20 — WINTER | 2015

ustralia is going through something of an upheaval. In September this year, Malcom Turnbull the Minister

for Communications resigned and stated his intention to challenge then Prime Minister Tony Abbott for leadership of the Liberal Party. Abbott was defeated by Turnbull on a 54-44 vote. On the nuclear side, South Australia set up a Royal Commission to consider the nuclear fuel cycle in March of this year. The inquiry has a wide ranging remit taking in uranium exploration and extraction, mineral processing and radioactive materials manufacturing, nuclear generation, and the storage and disposal of radioactive waste. The consultation will look at the risks as well as the opportunities – including the economic and community benefits that

could be derived from the nuclear sector. Over 1,000 responses have been received from the academic community, industry, local people, subject matter experts and non-governmental organisations. This investigative work has been heralded by State Senator Sean Edwards, “South Australia has the opportunity to develop a nuclear energy industry, to take custody of spent nuclear fuel and to progressively recycle it,” Edwards said, adding: “Not only would we be paid handsomely by inter-national partners to do this, we would have the opportunity to generate plentiful, clean, baseload power for South Australian businesses and its citizens.” Several fast reactors have the potential to play a role in making Australia a nuclear nation, including GE-Hitachi's PRISM, France's Astrid reactor, and Russia's SVBR.

The report (and its recommendations) will be given to the Governor of South Australia, The Honourable Hieu Van Le, no later than 6 May 2016. The new Prime Minister, Turnbull has openly supported the potential to develop Australia’s nuclear fuel cycle, “playing [a] part in the nuclear fuel cycle I think, is something that is worth looking at closely.” We will follow this debate as it continues to develop – potentially opening up a huge export market for UK companies.

A

ALASTAIR EVANS Public Affairs Manager NIA alastair.evans@niauk.org

FOCUS ON… AUSTRALIA

→ You can find out more information at – www.nuclearrc.sa.gov.au

2015 | WINTER — 21

The South West is set to become a nuclear hub in the next two decades, with 15 projects worth £50 billion to our economy creating 42,400 person years of employment - equivalent to the London Olympics. Nuclear South West, a newly launched non-for-profit initiative between Business West and Davies Nuclear Associates, provides a platform for businesses to make the most of this growth. The project focuses on:

→ Supply chain development from both sides - either developing the one you have or getting you into a new one.

→ Bringing business together to network and share knowledge.

→ Maximising opportunities to support regional growth.

→ Encouraging more women to take up a career in the nuclear industry by working with Women in Nuclear (WiN) network

→ Developing the talent to power our nuclear sector in years to come by working with Young Generation Network (YGN) and Young Chamber.

Nuclear South West launched on 22 September in Bristol with some 150 potential members in attendance. Phil Smith (Business West) and Gareth Davies (Davies Nuclear Associates) told the crowds about the benefits coming up - including events, training, networking, partnering, information and intelligence, promotional opportunities and access to key industry areas. We look forward to working with industry partners and own members to ensure the South West gets as much benefit as possible from these future opportunities in the nuclear sector. Welcoming the initiative, Keith Parker, NIA Chief Executive said: “The South West will be home to the UK’s first new nuclear reactor in a generation and this initiative will help organisations in the region benefit from the enormous opportunities that it will bring. That is on top of other nuclear projects in decommissioning, existing generation, defence and research. The region has a lot to offer and this is a timely intervention. “The NIA has been working for years readying the supply chain for new build. The key now is working with regional organisations like Nuclear South West to help activities already underway, prevent duplication and support new initiatives effectively.” For more information on how to get involved with NSW please contact Jessica Vallentine at Business West on 07733 364 401 or jessica.vallentine@nuclearsouthwest.co.uk.

SNAPSHOT

Nuclear South West

In partnership with

Supported by

Date: 19 - 21 January 2016

Venue: Hotel Russell, London

Take this opportunity to network and contribute to discussions with senior experts from global nuclear stakeholders and vendors over this two day event.

Email us today or visit the website to book a ticket for CNS 2016

Cost: £150 plus VAT/person

https://www.events.ukti.gov. uk/civil-nuclear-showcase-2016/

+44 (0) 207 034 4848

civilnuclearshowcase@ uktieventspecialist.co.uk

W:

E:

T:

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in partnership with Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) present Civil Nuclear Showcase 2016

22 — WINTER | 2015

NDA calls for innovativesupply chain

All

imag

es: C

ourt

esy

of N

ucle

ar D

ecom

mis

sion

ing

Aut

hori

ty —

ww

w.n

da.g

ov.u

k

2015 | WINTER — 23

Social media has transformed communications for businesses and none more so than Twitter. It is an incredibly simple and ‘instant’ way to get information out to a potentially huge and diverse audience. The nuclear industry is competing in a crowded space where almost every industry has a strong presence so what more can it do? Can you spell out a coherent argument in 140 characters, or explain a state-of-the-art bit of equipment or how a nuclear power stations works? If you can I’m amazed and please teach me! However if you did answer that question with a yes, I think you might be lying. Think about what catches your eye when you stroll through your own Twitter feed? Chances are it’s an image and most importantly a good quality one. Images help show off an industry in a clear way as opposed to hundreds of acronyms, technical (another word for boring) language and theory. Infographics clearly illustrate information and we all know a picture is worth a thousand words. Nuclear workers are extremely proud of the work they do, whether it is running a power station or managing the legacy of the UK’s dash for plutonium – so let’s show it off! There are without doubt security issues with images and they will need to be regulated on nuclear licenced sites but that should only be an obstacle not a roadblock. The nuclear industry uses some of the most innovative machinery and techniques across the fuel cycle. Laser cutters, remote handling and controlled demolitions produce great images and can excite young minds about future careers in a growing industry where opportunities will be plentiful over the next decade and beyond. The NIA has a library of images which have all been regurgitated hundreds of times so please send me (rupert.lewis@niauk.org) any pictures or graphics to help refresh it. I also realise the irony of promoting the idea of images by publishing a picture-less tweet below but I can reassure you it used a brilliant image!

The Twittersphere

Who to follow?Want information on nuclear and other relevant topics? This issue we recommend you follow:

@mattlegg24@RuthHutchison@jrmygrdn

@edfecareers: Today our #Grads tell us about the #engineering myths you shouldn't believe #TEWEEK15 http://bit.ly/1GKZmPN

@NIAUKTwitter Count

Followers: 2,909Tweets: 4,070

BY. RUPERT LEWIS

Set the goal of increasing the size of its annual supply chain event by Baroness Verma at its 2014 event, it is safe to say the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) managed it. Organised and managed by NIA members, Marick Communications, the 2015 conference attracted over 1,500 delegates from 15 different countries and accommodated more than 270 exhibiters at Event City in Manchester. ‘Innovation’ was the theme of this year’s conference and the exhibition area included its own dedicated ‘Innovation Zone’ which hosted more than 40 exhibitors, each demonstrating their own individual cutting-edge technologies. NDA Chief Executive, John Clarke opened the day and stressed the importance of suppliers providing the skills and innovation required to support the UK’s decommissioning industry. He also addressed concerns around the Government’s (at the time) upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review and insisted the NDA will continue to back SMEs. Commenting on the event and the NDA’s mission, Ron Gorham, the NDA’s Head of Supply Chain Opti-misation said: “The success of our mission depends on vibrant, dynamic businesses providing solutions to the many challenges. We remain committed to working with the supply chain, from the largest to the smallest players, to improve opportunities for involvement in decommissioning. “(The) event is a direct response to suppliers who wanted one place to talk with each other and do business, where they could access leading figures from across our estate and hear key messages.”

Women in Nuclear UK (WiN UK) has launched an Industry Charter to help nuclear sector businesses address gender balance, recognising that the nuclear sector cannot reach its full potential without maximising the talents of all. Launched at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s annual Supply Chain conference, the Charter has 10 points which business leaders signing up to it will aim to address. These include: recognising the need to promote a balanced view of the sector to attract more women, a commitment to review and remove potential barriers to working in their organisations and acknowledging the need to provide a clear pathway accessible to all.

Find out more at www.womeninnuclear.org.uk

24 — WINTER | 2015

NEWS IN BRIEF

Fit For Nuclear (F4N) is urging manufacturers in England to sign up to the programme which can potentially help them take advantage of nuclear business opportunities. Developed by Nuclear AMRC, F4N lets companies measure their current operations against the standards required to supply the nuclear industry and helps a business take the right steps required to close any gaps. The programme is supported by the Regional Growth Fund, and is set to end on 31 March 2016. Over 300 companies have completed the assessment and most have received ongoing support. F4N supports the whole supply chain spectrum; manufactures with no nuclear experience have used it, as have companies wanting

to check their position and drive business excellence. Speaking about the initiative, Chief Executive of the Nuclear AMRC, Mike Tynan has explained: “This is giving manufacturers in England the opportunity to win their share of the billions of pounds being invested in civil nuclear new build, operations and decommissioning. “To win work, UK companies need to make sure they have the ability to meet safety, quality and cost standards, and can demonstrate that their specialist capabilities can meet industry demands.” For more information about the F4N programme visit namrc.co.uk/services/f4n and take advantage before time runs out.

Last chance to get Fit For Nuclear

The UK’s nuclear renaissance is now well underway and both NuGen and Hitachi-GE have launched their supplier portals. NuGen’s supplytomoorside.co.uk website will initially be a platform for the developer to engage with the supply chain and provide informative updates. Moorside is set to be Europe’s largest new nuclear construction project and NuGen has publicly said up to 60% of the project “could be accessible to the UK supply chain.” Subscribe for updates on the website and as NuGen develops its strategy it will mould into a space for companies to register their information and capabilities for the project. In its role as the lead contractor to Horizon Nuclear Power, Hitachi-GE has also launched its supplier registration website (hitachi-hgne.co.uk/suppliers). Horizon already has a well-

established structure (horizonnuclearpower.com/supplier-registration), and this remains, but the Hitachi portal is aimed specifically at companies interested in working for the EPC Delivery team. Registration only takes around 10 minutes and it is not a pre-qualification, but a way of bringing a company to Hitachi-GE’s attention. The Hinkley Point C project continues to move forward and EDF Energy has a renowned supply chain portal (hinkleysupplychain.co.uk). If you haven’t registered already or if you want to update your supplier profile visit the website. The portal will also keep you up to date with the latest information on the project and in particular the latest work package news.

New build supplier portals

2015 | WINTER — 25

The chosen reactor for Horizon Nuclear Power’s new build developments at Wylfa Newydd on the Isle of Anglesey and at Oldbury in Gloucester has progressed to Stage 4 of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA). Hitachi-GE’s Advanced Boiling Water Reactor is the only generation III+ reactor to have entered operation and remains on schedule to complete the GDA by the end of 2017. Developed by the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency, the GDA is the process by which the UK’s independent nuclear regulators assess the potential suitability of a reactor design for development in the UK, considering both safety and environmental issues. Commenting on the announcement, Keith Parker, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “Today’s announcement from Hitachi-GE further illustrates the momentum behind the UK’s new nuclear build programme. The Generic Design Assessment is a rigorous and respected regulatory programme and I applaud the Hitachi-GE team for their success in moving to Step 4 of the process. “All but one of the UK’s current nuclear f leet will be shut down in the 2020s and it is imperative that capacity is replaced to maintain nuclear powers dependable low-carbon contribution to keeping the UK’s lights on.”

UK ABWR moves to final stage of GDA

Sellafield Ltd has announced one of the sites biggest tasks is halfway to completion as 50% of the radioactivity from Sellafield's oldest nuclear fuel pond has been removed. All of the waste has been transferred from the pond to a modern handling plant, operated by the National Nuclear Laboratory. The Pile Fuel Storage Pond dates back to when Sellafield’s primary focus was to produce material for the UK’s nuclear deterrent and it is one of four high hazard facilities which have been prioritised for clean-up. Like much of the infrastructure on the site, the pond was not built with decommissioning in mind and as a consequence the clean-up mission is hugely challenging. The pond is in a fragile state and has been subject to several years of improvement works to withstand the retrieval operations. However despite the challenges, huge progress has been made to retrieve fuel which is several decades old. Commenting on the radioactive milestone, Paul Foster, Managing Director of Sellafield Ltd, said: “Removal of the entire canned fuel inventory is a major step towards decommissioning this facility and reducing the risk posed by Sellafield’s legacy facilities. “This is a fantastic example of how closer collaboration with our colleagues in Government, the NDA, our regulators and NNL is delivering fit-for-purpose solutions to the accelerated clean-up of the site.” Work continues at the pond and by April next year, more than 70% of the radioactivity will have been removed. This is one of many Sellafield successes stories and the draining of the pond is set to be brought forward more than two decades, remaining on track to save £700 million from the 2011 estimate.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the UK’s independent nuclear regulator, has appointed Adriènne Kelbie as its new Chief Executive. Adriènne is currently the Chief Executive of the Disclosure and Barring Service and will take up her new position on 18 January 2016. Commenting on the appointment, ONR Chair, Nick Baldwin said: “I am delighted to welcome Adriènne as our new Chief Executive and look forward to working with her. Her valuable skills and leadership experience will enable us to continue our work in taking forward our published strategy and building ONR as an enabling and responsive regulator.” Adriènne takes over from Les Philpott who has been Acting Chief Executive since March 2015 and said: “There has never been a greater need for effective regulation, given the growing part that nuclear energy plays in the UK. This is a matter of legitimate public concern, and national security. I’m looking forward to working with the Board and staff to help ONR achieve its vision as an enabling and responsive regulator that ensures industry maintains high standards, controls its hazards effectively and has a culture of continuous improvement.”

Sellafield high hazard half empty

ONR appoint new CEO

Teams have worked tirelessly to remove all canned fuel from the Pile Fuel Storage Pond at the Sellafield site

26 — WINTER | 2015

Predicting the futureBY. ANDREW MOORE ⁄ HUMAN PERFORMANCE AND LEADERSHIP LTD

DOING THE MATHS Mathematical modelling is invaluable when conventional

research or experimentation is too expensive or impracticable. It can help us to better understand the transmission of infectious diseases, predict the transport and metabolism of toxins in the body, or simulate the release and behaviour of flammable gases. Specialising in disciplines ranging from ergonomics to nanotechnology, experts at HSL can help with the assessment and effective management of risk.

UNIQUE REACTORS PRESENT UNIQUE CHALLENGES Britain’s Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs) are the only

electricity producing nuclear reactors in the world that feature graphite-moderated cores cooled by CO2 while operating at temperatures over 500oC. Seven AGRs generate almost a fifth of the electricity consumed in the UK and between them have operated safely for over 40 years, but during a reactor’s lifetime the graphite core – which cannot be renewed or replaced – is subjected to irradiation and oxidation. These processes can alter the physical and material properties of graphite bricks and may eventually cause them to lose weight, distort or crack. The condition of an AGR’s core underpins its safe operation. Supporting regulatory duties relevant to these reactors, and verifying the safety cases made for them by their licensee, requires a sound understanding of the issues that may affect an AGR’s safe operation. This presents a challenge; the unique designs of the graphite cores means that existing operational experience, experimental data and relevant standards or codes of practice are limited to the UK.

SECURING INFORMED AND EFFECTIVE REGULATION The licensee of Britain’s AGRs supports its safety cases for

their continued operation with information provided by a complex computer model of a reactor’s core and components. This model uses data provided by Materials Test Reactors, and from the periodic analysis of reactor core graphite samples. To be assured of the ongoing safety of AGRs, the regulator must make informed, impartial decisions regarding end-of-life issues and reactor safety. This necessitates an appreciation of the technical issues and mechanisms – such as physical changes to graphite bricks over time – which may limit a reactor’s operational life.

MATHEMATICAL MODELLING MEETS THE CHALLENGE HSL provides the independent technical expertise and

understanding of graphite brick behaviour which enables the regulator to check forecasts of an AGR’s operational life expectancy, and to assess the adequacy of the licensee’s inspection and risk management strategy. The laboratory’s Mathematical Sciences Unit, working with Birmingham University’s School of Metallurgy and Materials and the Nuclear Graphite Research Group at Manchester University, has created the only alternative, independent graphite material properties model to that used by the operator. Predicting nuclear graphite behaviour uses a mathematical simulation called Finite Element (FE) modelling in which a complex system of points (called ‘nodes’) is interconnected by a web-like ‘mesh’ to create a virtual representation of a physical object. The object’s material and structural specifications are programmed into the mesh so that the virtual object will behave as its physical counterpart would when subjected to conditions such as heat, pressure, radiation etc. FE modelling is computationally demanding and time consuming due to the specific data calibrations and program iterations needed to produce reliable output – in this case brick stress predictions. HSL’s model overcomes this issue by innovatively using a Bayesian emulator; this sophisticated and efficient statistical ‘meta-model’ recreates the behaviour of an FE model in a probabilistic manner, but is much faster and less resource intensive to run.

SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE EQUALS GREATER HEALTH AND SAFETY

By intelligently analysing and extrapolating data relating to nuclear graphite and the effects upon it of irradiation and oxidation, HSL’s mathematical model is providing independent predictions of graphite brick degradation. These will become increasingly important to regulatory assessments of the remaining safe operational life of Britain’s nuclear AGR’s. It is this scientific expertise, which spans many disciplines besides the mathematical sciences, that enables HSE’s Health and Safety Laboratory to assist regulators and organisations alike to achieve a safer and healthier working world.

How can you determine the safe life expectancy of an operational nuclear reactor when physically checking the condition of every graphite brick at its core is practically impossible? Mathematical modelling specialists at HSE’s Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) have the answer.

2015 | WINTER — 27

NIA new build and decommissioning groups regularly attract in excess of 100 members providing a base to meet, network and do business. Holding a joint meeting for only the second time was a challenge but ultimately a successful one. When civil nuclear was a synonym for a ‘sunset industry’, these groups once met in a meeting room at the NIA’s offices and at times it was a struggle to get people to turn up – for this event we had to turn people away… Organised in partnership with the Welsh Government and supported by Horizon Nuclear Power and Doosan Babcock the event attracted over 240 NIA members and invited Welsh companies. Delegates heard from a range of speakers including the NIA’s Chairman, Lord Hutton and Welsh Minister Edwina Hart AM. With the impending Comprehensive Spending Review, Lord Hutton focused on the work the NIA has done to help maintain the nationally significant

decommissioning budget and support the industry’s ambitious new build plans. The Minister gave an impassioned speech about business opportunities in Wales and in particular, the strength of the nuclear industry. Focusing on North Wales, she spoke in glowing terms about the work at Wylfa to operate, decommission and before long, build nuclear power stations. Amanda MacMillan, Horizon Nuclear Power spoke about the developer’s plans at Wylfa Newydd focusing on its regional programme of work and Huw Widgery laid out the plans and preparatory work for its funded decommissioning programme. Dr John Idris Jones, Anglesey Energy Island gave possibly the most passionate speech ever given at an NIA event. In his presentation, ‘Securing investment for Wales’, John laid out all of his credentials to head the Welsh tourist board! Setting out why businesses need to invest in North Wales and the enormous potential in the area for a range of energy initiatives.

Nuclear South West and Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster outlined how they are helping companies in their regions access the supply chain and grow their business. Dan Gould, NuGeneration presented on the Moorside developement focusing on the company’s recent local consultation. The day finished with a speech from Nigel Knee, EDF Energy. Chinese involvement in the Hinkley Project was being mooted and Nigel addressed media speculation and explained to delegates the company is working as hard as it can to reach the fundamental Fina Investment Decision. All-in-all, the event was an enormous success. NIA would like to thank the speakers who took time out to present at the event and to Brian McConnell, Hydrock and Gareth Davies, Davies Nuclear Associates who helped in the run up to the event and Chaired on the day.

New build and decommissioning joint meeting

VISIT US AT STAND 5

28 — WINTER | 2015

Land and Lakes LtdLand and Lakes is a dynamic leisure and residential development company focussing on environmental awareness and ‘low energy’ mixed use developments. A company that delivers a ‘legacy’ for local communities, promotes partnership and quality design, and recognises its responsibility to develop in an environ-mentally sensitive manner. Land and Lakes is a provider of nuclear worker accommodation and transport logistics specifically for nuclear build.

Nuclear Compliance Consultants LtdNCC work closely with UK clients, devel-oping nuclear baselines and functional frameworks, and introducing a safety and quality culture. It advises on management for safety and leadership, ensuring interpretation of nuclear standards and regulations are understood. As a result, ambiguities are alleviated, risks reduced, product compliance and organisational capability verified, and a leaner more efficient business model demonstrated.

NEW NIA MEMBERS

DBD LimitedDBD Limited originally concentrated on the UK nuclear industry but now also has highly-developed experience in the international nuclear sector and other high-hazard industries such as power and chemicals through the recruitment of high-calibre people in these sectors. Its skills and capabilities cross the whole project lifecycle, and its expertise includes decommissioning, spent fuel and waste management, nuclear new build and nuclear fusion. It is one of the UK’s most successful organisations of its kind, working with a wide range of major companies in the nuclear, power and chemical industries.

Trant Engineering LtdTrant Engineering Ltd can provide a full range of civil, mechanical, electrical, process and C&I engineering services. It provides full civil and M&E design services. Its staff are security vetted and experienced with working in challenging environments. Trant has skilled resource which enable us to operate as a Tier 1 Contractor on EPC and D&B contracts. It has worked across Magnox sites located in Southern England, completing a large variety of civil and M&E contracts in the decommissioning process.

Turnell & Odell Ltd – Precision EngineersAs leading precision engineers, Turnell & Odell offer specialist low volume prototype development as well as high volume manufacturing, and is equipped with a broad range of modern CNC machinery. By continually investing in the latest machining technology and software it makes sure it stays ahead of the field. Its advanced engineering techniques embrace CNC turning, milling and machining centres, borer, grinders and other secondary operation machinery.

Determanagement LimitedDetermanagement Ltd offers a co-ordinated approach of providing guidance and advice for clients to meet their project expectations, by defining, reducing and mitigating risks that are inherent in the delivery of all projects.

Energy Resourcing Europe LtdEnergy Resourcing Europe Ltd is a supplier of specialist professional engineering, project management, engineering, technical and support personnel for energy companies in the nuclear, oil, gas, tidal, marine and wind farm sectors in Europe and around the world. It provides a range of innovative recruitment and contractor management services to leading companies which include energy operators, engineering design houses and major construction organisations.

Waldeck Associates LimitedAs leaders in Digital Engineering & BIM, Waldeck is almost unique in the sector, undertaking projects to support nuclear new build, existing licensed sites, waste storage, processing and decommissioning. Waldeck is an agile and innovation focused organisation that create project certainty as end-to-end suppliers in the nuclear industry.

Harris Pye (UK) LtdHarris Pye is a world-wide engineering project company working in the marine, oil and gas industry with ISO9001, ASME and API accreditations. It offers fabrication of non-nuclear island pressure vessels, general fabrication and pipe system manufacture and fitting. Harris Pye has a substantial skilled labour resource which includes coded welders, pipe fitters and fabricators.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BENEFITS OF

NIA MEMBERSHIP AT NIAUK.ORG/ MEMBERSHIP-

INFORMATIONWELCOME

2015 | WINTER — 29

“ONE ISSUE WE WILL NEED TO FOCUS ON QUICKLY IS COSTS, WHICH GIVEN THE RECESSION ARE STILL VERY

MUCH A MAJOR FOCUS IN POLITICS AND MEDIA.”

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

Two months after Jeremy Corbyn defied opening odds of 100/1 to be declared leader of the Labour Party we are still digesting the implications, both for the country and the industry. His election threw his party into chaos, and the media into apoplexy. Eight weeks experience has resulted in a slightly more considered view, but it is clear his ‘new politics’ is transforming the party. From our particular perspective, perhaps the greatest concern is whether the political consensus on nuclear policy is now under threat. Whilst Labour will almost certainly remain committed to fighting climate change and to decarbonising electricity generation, Corbyn himself is ‘passionately opposed to nuclear power’. Although he has emphasised these are his personal views and not policies, it is clear they are shared by his closest allies including Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. Of course existing Labour policies cannot be altered overnight. A proposal from Labour’s National Executive Com-mittee and a conference vote would be required to effect any major change, and a lot of thinking and debate would be needed before that stage was reached. In this process the anti-nuclear view would likely be balanced by shadow cabinet moderates who recognise new nuclear is vital if this country is to meet its energy security and legally binding climate change objectives. And their stance would almost certainly be supported by the trades unions. There is therefore much still to play for, and as the trade association for the

nuclear industry we will be keen to put in our two pennyworth, making the case for nuclear as effectively as we can. One issue we will need to focus on quickly is costs, which given the reces-sion are still very much a major focus in politics and media. In the lead up to the recent Chinese state visit there was a deluge of critical and often hyperbolic comment on how poor a deal Hinkley Point C was for consumers. Much of this was misguided, a typical mistake being to compare the HPC £92.5MWh strike price with the current wholesale price. Leaving aside the fact the wholesale price has been above this in the recent past, it is also the case it is largely based on carbon emitting fossil plant built several decades ago. This really is a case of apples and pears. A better question would be whether Hinkley is competitive with the other forms of low carbon electricity genera-tion likely to be available in the 2020s, and given the average cost of renewables expected to be delivered by 2021 is around £130/MWh it would be. For its part, DECC estimates the new nuclear programme could reduce average household electricity bill by up to around £30 in 2030 compared to leaving nuclear out of the future energy mix. In this context it is worth noting the independent Climate Change Committee recently produced a report setting out a range of future options to reduce the UK’s emissions from electricity in 2030, and this states the Hinkley Point C strike price is in line with the expected

full cost of gas generation in 2025. We shall need to ensure this is properly understood as the debate continues. Finally, on a separate issue, I should note the Government has announced the creation of a National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), chaired by the former Labour Cabinet Minister Andrew Adonis. Its purpose is to ‘calmly and dispassionately assess the future infrastructure needs of the country and hold any government’s feet to the fire if it fails to deliver’. One of the three areas for its initial focus is ‘how to ensure investment in energy infrastructure can meet future demand in the most efficient way’. Given Labour had earlier planned a National Infrastructure Commission under Sir John Armitt to take such a long term view, this is a blatant case of policy plagiarism. Nonetheless given the problems experienced in delivering major infra-structure over the past few decades – think London airports – no-one is complaining, and we look forward to seeing its initial advice which is expected before next year’s budget.

PowerPolitics

OPINION