Game Changers General Applications.pdf

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General applications

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From cleaning-up the country’s highest nuclear risks and hazards to safeguarding nuclear fuel, materials and waste, Sellafield Ltd’s mission is nationally important.As they approach the completion of reprocessing and the site changes to decommissioning activities, Sellafield Ltd are increasingly focussed on environmental remediation and waste management.Research and development (R&amp;D) is fundamental to the delivery of their mission.&nbsp;New technologies and techniques can improve safety, security and reduce costs, timescales and environmental impact.Sellafield Ltd work in four value streams, prioritising efforts and maximising value:<ul><li>Retrievals: Sellafield Ltd are retrieving nuclear waste, fuel and sludge that are stored inside their legacy ponds and silos, the highest risks and hazards at Sellafield</li><li>Remediation: beyond the legacy ponds and silos, Sellafield Ltd have hundreds of nuclear and non-nuclear facilities that need to be cleaned-up</li><li>Spent nuclear fuel management: Sellafield Ltd are moving towards storing fuel instead of reprocessing it</li><li>Special nuclear materials: Sellafield Ltd have the facilities and expertise to provide safe, secure and appropriate storage for special nuclear materials</li></ul><h3>To support these value streams, Sellafield Ltd are particularly interested in innovation in these areas:</h3>

Sellafield Ltd

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Dounreay is Scotland’s largest decommissioning project and is internationally recognised as one of the most complex nuclear site closure projects. For more than 50 years it was the centre of the UK’s fast reactor research and development.&nbsp;Now the team is aiming to be recognised as a centre of excellence for nuclear decommissioning.&nbsp;The experimental nature of many of its redundant facilities which included the full spectrum of nuclear operation from fuel manufacture and reactor operation to spent fuel reprocessing and waste storage means that the clean up and demolition is complex and requires innovation and great care. Cleaning up the site poses challenges involving both high radiation and contamination as well as various hazardous chemical cocktails. This presents challenges as new and innovative solutions are required to access remote cells, ducts and vessels for inspection, characterisation, size reduction and material handling. The objective is to safely package and dispose of the materials and permit site remediation.

Dounreay

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Magnox is responsible for the safe and secure clean-up of 12 nuclear sites across the UK, including ten former electricity generating stations and two research sites, and the operation of one hydro-electric plant.Following defuelling of the sites, our work now is as diverse as it is challenging as we pioneer the use of innovative techniques to accelerate decommissioning and clean-up.It is a complex process, bringing together many conventional challenges such as asbestos removal and asset management, as well as characterisation, processing and packaging of radioactive waste, land remediation and ultimately removal of reactor cores.Many of the challenges being faced by Magnox are firsts of a kind, meaning our work is constantly pioneering and continually looking for ways of sharing best practice and seeking improvement.We work hand in hand with our supply chain to transform the tools and techniques used to deliver this important work; growing our expertise in areas such as robotics, virtual reality and digital technology which will ultimately offer significant benefits to the UK and beyond.

Magnox

If you think that you have an idea which might be of interest to any of our partners, please submit an application to tell us more.You can learn about research areas which are of particular interest by reading our <a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/partners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(63, 81, 181);">partner pages</a>.Information about the <a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/projects" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(63, 81, 181);">projects</a> we're currently funding should also help you to decide whether your technology might have application at Sellafield or NRS.In addition, you might like to read some of the historic challenge statements published on our site.If you'd like to explore your idea with us before submitting an application, please get in touch.Please note that applications can take up to 12 weeks to be assessed as funding decisions are made on a quarterly basis.

Applications for the Game Changers scheme are always welcome for any project or technology which could support nuclear innovation. If you have an idea which you think might be of interest to Sellafield, NRS Dounreay or Magnox, we'd love to hear from you.

Challenge statement - In-situ real-time characterisation.pdf

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CHALLENGE AIMSThe aim of this challenge is to enhance the characterisation toolkit at Sellafield – identifying technologies that can assess a wide range of waste material characteristics, including radiological, non-radiological, chemical, and physical properties.The solution(s) should be able to remotely identify and determine both the type and quantity of the following components in situ in any given waste material:<ul><li>Total petroleum hydrocarbons</li><li>Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)</li><li>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)</li><li>Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)</li><li>Heavy metals</li><li>Anions</li><li>Asbestos</li><li>Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)</li><li>Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)</li><li>Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) testing</li><li>pH</li></ul>Sellafield Ltd is seeking solutions that can address all or part of the challenge and help reduce the current 12-week timeframe for data gathering and analysis of samples.FIND OUT MOREPlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.An interactive webinar will take place at 10:30am (GMT) on Thursday 14th November where delegates will have the chance to hear directly from the challenge owners and ask any questions. Attendance is free. Register <a href="https://forms.fis360.com/fis360ltd/form/GameChangerswebinarInsiturealtimecharacterisationa/formperma/Kyxx98BD_OXRG7TMfNWnxyeUblpZUkgLRKtd00wfCy0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(63, 81, 181);">here</a>.The deadline for applications for this challenge is 3pm on Tuesday 26th November 2024.ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONSApplications are reviewed against set criteria by a panel of challenge owners, prospective end‐users from our partner organisations, and Game Changers project staff. Brief summary feedback will be provided if your project is not awarded feasibility funding.Application forms and posters will be assessed consistently and transparently using the following criteria:<ol><li>How well does the application align with the challenge aims?</li><li>Is the proposed solution credible from the perspective of deployment?</li><li>What potential does the proposed solution have to transform practice in your area?</li><li>Do you feel the applicant is well placed to deliver a feasibility project?</li><li>Would the solution proposed in the application benefit from feasibility funding?</li><li>Does the application meet the scope of the challenge?</li></ol>

In-situ real-time characterisation and measurement of materials for effective nuclear waste management

Waste on the Sellafield site must be classified and any hazardous properties identified before handling and disposal. Conducting measurements in situ enables faster, real-time data gathering and analysis, facilitating immediate decision-making regarding the treatment, storage, recovery or disposal of waste.With such varied waste materials at Sellafield, it is recognised that a ‘toolbox’ of different technologies may be required, preferably one that works over a wide range of environments, providing a large suite of data/analysis. Note that not all analysis requires a numerical value to be beneficial and determining an analyte to be below the relevant hazardous waste threshold may be sufficient.

Sellafield Ltd is pursuing innovative solutions to accelerate the characterisation and measurement of materials through in-field testing capabilities.

Challenge statement - Lift it, shift it.pdf

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CHALLENGE AIMSThe solution should be able to encapsulate larger sections of ACMs that do not fit in a UN approved bulk bag, such as whole cement sheets and &gt;1 m sections of pipework, so that they can be transported as a whole and without further containment.It is critical that the solution must:<ul><li>Be compatible with the demolition methodology currently employed at Sellafield. This will require approval from licensed asbestos removal companies</li><li>Adhere to the following regulations that apply to transport and demolition contractors:</li><li class="ql-indent-1">ADR refers to the “European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road”, commonly known as ADR. It is a multilateral treaty that governs the transport of hazardous materials (dangerous goods) by road in Europe. A copy of the regulations can be found at https://unece.org/DAM/trans/danger/ publi/adr/adr2017/ADR2017E_web.pdf </li><li class="ql-indent-1">CAR2012 the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 is an Approved Code of Practice that provides guidance for employers about work which disturbs, or is likely to disturb, asbestos, asbestos sampling and laboratory analysis. The Regulations set out legal duties and give minimum standards for protecting employees from risks associated with exposure to asbestos. A copy of the regulations can be found at https://www. hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l143.pdf </li><li class="ql-indent-1">CDM the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations govern the way construction projects of all sizes and types are planned in the UK, with the aim of improving the overall health, safety and welfare of those working in construction. A copy of the regulations can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ uksi/2015/51/contents/made </li><li>Provide adequate encapsulation that allows an SP168 exemption to be adopted. This exemption states that “Asbestos which is immersed or fixed in a natural or artificial binder (such as cement, plastics, asphalt, resins or mineral ore) in such a way that no escape of hazardous quantities of respirable asbestos fibres can occur during carriage is not subject to the requirements of ADR”.</li></ul>A solution which can be implemented as soon as is practicable is preferred.FIND OUT MOREPlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.An interactive webinar will take place at 10:30am (GMT) on Monday 4th November where delegates will have the chance to hear directly from the challenge owners and ask any questions. Attendance is free. Register <a href="https://forms.fis360.com/fis360ltd/form/GameChangerswebinarLiftitshiftitAnalternativeappro/formperma/75qrf5Ksg2kex0oOdI3W2P3yenBF2mdrxrIEgGImvWQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.The deadline for applications for this challenge is 3pm on Thursday 14th November 2024.ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONSApplications are reviewed against set criteria by a panel of challenge owners, prospective end‐users from our partner organisations, and Game Changers project staff. Brief summary feedback will be provided if your project is not awarded feasibility funding.Application forms and posters will be assessed consistently and transparently using the following criteria:<ol><li>How well does the application align with the challenge aims?</li><li>Is the proposed solution credible from the perspective of deployment?</li><li>What potential does the proposed solution have to transform practice in your area?</li><li>Do you feel the applicant is well placed to deliver a feasibility project?</li><li>Would the solution proposed in the application benefit from feasibility funding?</li><li>Does the application meet the scope of the challenge?</li></ol>

Lift it, shift it: An alternative approach to asbestos removal

A number of buildings and pieces of equipment due to be decommissioned at Sellafield contain asbestos. There is a high potential risk of operators inhaling asbestos fibres when dismantling asbestos-containing materials (ACM), so the building dismantling process at Sellafield is conducted under strict protocols for handling and transporting ACM.Any solution that can provide sufficient containment of ACM to allow transport of larger components for off-site disposal would reduce the extent of on-site dismantling required, reduce the risk to operators, provide significant cost savings and speed up decommissioning.

Sellafield Ltd requires a safe and cost-effective means to remove asbestos-containing materials from its site. This challenge is seeking solutions that provide encapsulation of these materials prior to their removal for decontamination and disposal.

Challenge statement - Improvement of information management in Nuclear Safety Cases.pdf

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CHALLENGE AIMSThis challenge will seek solutions for one Nuclear Safety Case with the key challenge aims being:<ul><li>To improve the accuracy and visibility of the audit trail (golden thread) through Nuclear Safety Cases from the top level down to the plant operational and maintenance documents.</li><li>To reduce the time and cost required for the development, implementation, and maintenance of a Nuclear Safety Case, which will enable risks to be reduced more quickly.</li><li>To provide an automated solution. Nuclear Safety Cases are developed with stakeholders across plant that spend a lot of time and resource checking the Nuclear Safety Case documents and updates. An automated solution would help to free up this resource.</li><li>To improve change control for Nuclear Safety Cases, with reliable and accurate flagging of the cascade of changes required within all associated documents, when a single change is made to a single document. The ultimate aim would be to achieve automatic flagging once confidence levels have been met.</li><li>The greatest benefit will be gained if the solution can be backfitted to existing Nuclear Safety Cases, and so the solution is able to manage the Nuclear Safety Case documents which exist in a variety of formats.</li></ul>The challenge forms part of a package of work to improve the development and management of Nuclear Safety Cases at Sellafield. The aim is to deliver these improvements by:<ul><li>Reducing the amount of manual work to develop and Quality Assurance (QA) the various documents that form the Nuclear Safety Case.</li><li>Improving the consistency of the data format across all documents within the Nuclear Safety Case.</li><li>Reducing the amount of time taken to develop and manage Nuclear Safety Cases to better enable the Sellafield Ltd mission.</li></ul>Sellafield Ltd will consider a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) proposal, or may invest in the development of a solution. Either approach will require the oversight and approval of Sellafield Ltd’s Information Services Organisation (ISO).FIND OUT MOREPlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.You can watch a webinar and Q&amp;A session with the challenge owners for more information and details of how to apply.<iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1006242588/"></iframe>The deadline for applications for this challenge is 3pm (UK time) on Thursday 19 September 2024.ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONSApplications are reviewed against set criteria by a panel of challenge owners, prospective end‐users from our partner organisations, and Game Changers project staff. Brief summary feedback will be provided if your project is not awarded feasibility funding.Application forms and posters will be assessed consistently and transparently using the following criteria:<ol><li>How well does the application align with the challenge aims?</li><li>Is the proposed solution credible from the perspective of deployment?</li><li>What potential does the proposed solution have to transform practice in your area?</li><li>Do you feel the applicant is well placed to deliver a feasibility project?</li><li>Would the solution proposed in the application benefit from feasibility funding?</li><li>Does the application meet the scope of the challenge?</li></ol>ADDITIONAL INFORMATION POST-WEBINARUpdate on the 6 Categories of ControlsThe output from safe cases (irrespective of the methodology used to derive them) used at Sellafield are:Engineered Protection (EPMs)<ul><li>Safety Mechanism (important for safety, generally an active system i.e. a trip)</li><li>Safety Related Equipment (less important for safety, might be an alarm requiring an operator response)</li><li>Safety Feature (considered a ‘passive system’ i.e. a shield wall or containment feature (so can be both important and less important)</li></ul>Operational Protection (often required operator response, OPMs)<ul><li>Operating Rule (highest level limit or condition)</li><li>Operating Instruction (usually a required operator action)</li><li>Operating Assumption (often a lesser required operator action or an assumption used to model the fault sequence development)</li></ul>

Improvement of information management in Nuclear Safety Cases

The Nuclear Safety Case is the body of evidence that justifies and demonstrates that nuclear hazards are adequately managed, that operations are safe and that associated risks are reduced to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). All related documents are subject to constant ongoing revision. There are no live links between these documents, which exist in a variety of formats.A solution is sought that accurately and efficiently manages the transfer of information within these Nuclear Safety Cases and associated documentation, as well as providing a verifiable audit trail for the changes it proposes.

Sellafield is a large, highly complex nuclear facility with a lot of structured data across its Nuclear Safety Cases, which require manual, resource-intensive processes to cascade changes. Sellafield Ltd is seeking technologies to improve the efficiency of managing its Nuclear Safety Cases and these processes.

Challenge statement - Directional decontamination head deployment into large, congested, highly radioactive vessels.pdf

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CHALLENGE AIMSSellafield Ltd is looking for technology that can deploy an ultra-high pressure water jetting (UHPWJ) head or other tools into a vessel that can:<ul><li>Cover the full internal surface of the vessel including internal pipework and structures.</li><li>Operate from a nozzle to surface metal distance of 50mm to 100mm.</li></ul>The aim is to decontaminate the vessel by removing the entire internal surface layer of metal.Access into the vessel is achieved via 150mm inspection ports that pass through the 1.5m thick concrete cell wall, then through a 150mm diameter access port on the metal wall of the vessel itself.Technology is being developed to cut an access port into a vessel and then fit a removable access plug through which any technological solution could be deployed.Some vessels have open tops or engineered access ports, but many don’t and would need access to be created. Therefore, the smaller and lighter the solution the better.Aggressive chemicals can be deployed by filling the entire vessel undergoing POCO; however, this produces unacceptable volumes of effluent. The ability to spray chemicals onto the internal surfaces of the vessel would use less of the reagent and reduce the effluent challenge. Ultra-high pressure water jetting (UHPWJ) or electrochemical methods would remove the need for reagents, if the deployment challenge can be solved.FIND OUT MOREPlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.You can watch a webinar and Q&amp;A session with the challenge owners for more information and details of how to apply.<iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/996576919/"></iframe>The deadline for applications for this challenge is 2pm on Wednesday 21 August 2024.ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONSApplications are reviewed against set criteria by a panel of challenge owners, prospective end‐users from our partner organisations, and Game Changers project staff. Brief summary feedback will be provided if your project is not awarded feasibility funding.Application forms and posters will be assessed consistently and transparently using the following criteria:<ol><li>How well does the application align with the challenge aims?</li><li>Is the proposed solution credible from the perspective of deployment?</li><li>What potential does the proposed solution have to transform practice in your area?</li><li>Do you feel the applicant is well placed to deliver a feasibility project?</li><li>Would the solution proposed in the application benefit from feasibility funding?</li><li>Does the application meet the scope of the challenge?</li></ol>

Directional decontamination head deployment into large, congested, highly radioactive vessels

Post Operational Clean Out (POCO) of the Sellafield site requires the internal cleaning of large, highly radioactive vessels with complex internal configurations. Sellafield Ltd is seeking innovative solutions for deploying vessel cleaning heads and ultra-high/high-pressure water jetting or spray nozzles to apply decontaminating chemicals and foams inside these structures.The vessels' internal structures can include cooling/heating coils; fluid mixing and transfer devices; instrument dip-legs; internal vessels; and pipe support brackets. All of these internal structures require full surface decontamination. Any tool deployed to clean these internal structures would need to be able to navigate around them whilst cleaning them.

Sellafield Ltd is seeking innovative solutions that will deliver improvements over the current techniques used for deploying vessel cleaning heads into large, highly radioactive vessels with complex internal configurations.

Challenge statement - Fixatives for containment of alpha contamination in gloveboxes.pdf

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CHALLENGE AIMSSellafield Ltd would like to identify a fixative that securely fixes airborne alpha particles in place, along with an application method that can be deployed through a 150mm diameter glove port. The fixative solution must be chemically compatible with the glovebox materials, stable under ambient conditions and be as long-lasting as possible. Further details can be found in the “Functional Requirements” section of the challenge statement.Due to the risks of a breach of containment posed by ageing gloveboxes, a solution is desired as soon as practicable. As operations at the Analytical Services Laboratory at Sellafield, which contains many alpha contaminated gloveboxes, are being phased out, this further exacerbates the need for a fixative solution. Other methodologies have been trialled; however, Sellafield Ltd is looking to improve upon these.The ideal scenario would be the capability to coat a glovebox sufficiently for it to be transported without an outer box or crate. Treatment that enables an empty glovebox to act as a container for waste would be an added benefit. Due to the complex states of gloveboxes across site, and the resulting requirements on fixative technology, Sellafield Ltd understands this will be a challenge.FIND OUT MOREPlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.You can watch a webinar and Q&amp;A session with the challenge owners for more information and details of how to apply.<iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/992847469/"></iframe>The deadline for applications for this challenge is 3pm on Thursday 15th August 2024.ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONSApplications are reviewed against set criteria by a panel of challenge owners, prospective end‐users from our partner organisations, and Game Changers project staff. Brief summary feedback will be provided if your project is not awarded feasibility funding.Application forms and posters will be assessed consistently and transparently using the following criteria:<ol><li>How well does the application align with the challenge aims?</li><li>Is the proposed solution credible from the perspective of deployment?</li><li>What potential does the proposed solution have to transform practice in your area?</li><li>Do you feel the applicant is well placed to deliver a feasibility project?</li><li>Would the solution proposed in the application benefit from feasibility funding?</li><li>Does the application meet the scope of the challenge?</li></ol>

Fixatives for containment of alpha contamination in gloveboxes

There are approximately 800 gloveboxes across the Sellafield site, made up of a variety of materials such as steel, plastics and elastomers, that contain radioactive material including alpha particles. Due to the advanced age of many of the gloveboxes, they may fail within the next few years, leading to a breach of containment.Sellafield Ltd would like to explore options for effective, strong and durable fixatives that would provide containment of alpha contaminated material within gloveboxes selected for decommissioning, preventing the radioactive contamination from becoming airborne during preparation and transfer of the gloveboxes for processing.

Sellafield Ltd would like to explore options for effective, strong and durable fixatives that would provide containment of alpha contaminated material within gloveboxes selected for decommissioning.

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The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is a UK government owned and operated nuclear services technology provider covering the whole of the nuclear fuel cycle.Established in 2008, NNL brought together the UK’s nuclear research and development capability into one organisation.NNL provide expertise, technology and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.&nbsp;Their scientists and technologists are working at the forefront of nuclear innovation to address challenges and harness opportunities across the industry.NNL work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with their integrated microdrilling technology, and as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems, based on radioactive materials, for spacecraft.<h2>Innovation at NNL</h2>NNL has always been at the forefront of nuclear innovation, bringing their expertise to solve some of the industry’s most intractable problems.&nbsp;As custodians of some of the most advanced laboratories, active handling facilities, and nuclear technology research facilities in the world, NNL’s ability to bridge the gap between idea and application is second to none.As the nuclear sector faces a major challenge to innovate in order to compete on cost with other low-carbon technologies, NNL are broadening their innovation capabilities.&nbsp;The organisation has growing expertise in robotics, artificial intelligence and new materials.With a strong focus on adopting innovation from outside the sector, NNL are now working in partnership with Game Changers to find solutions to some of their own challenges.

National Nuclear Laboratory

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NWL supplies water and sewerage services to just under 4.4 million people.Water is supplied to 794,000 properties in Essex and Suffolk, with water and sewerage services provided to 1.3 million properties in the north east of England.NWL employs just under 3,000 people and operates:<ul><li>53 water treatment works</li><li>394 water pumping stations</li><li>341 water service reservoirs</li><li>26,200.20 km water mains</li><li>410 sewage treatment works</li><li>1,007 sewage pumping stations</li><li>30,106 km sewers</li></ul>Every day we supply 1,104 megalitres (1.1 billion litres) of water. This water is drawn from reservoirs, where it is collected and stored, rivers and groundwater sources. It is treated at our works before it is delivered by a network of pipes to homes and businesses.In the north east of England, where we also provide sewerage services, wastewater is then collected from these properties via the sewerage network and treated at our works before it is returned to the environment as either clean water or sludge which can be recycled as fertiliser or used to generate energy.

Northumbrian Water

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Part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's (BEIS)&nbsp;£505m Energy Innovation Programme, the Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme (AFCP) is investigating the role of advanced nuclear fuels and fuel cycles for a Net Zero future. With the UK Government committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, AFCP is laying the foundation from which Britain can maximise its current capability, meet Net Zero and continue deploying sustainable fuel and recycling concepts through the future.Developed to help equip the UK with the right skills, technology and networks to achieve carbon neutrality, AFCP leverages cross-country collaboration and cutting-edge science to steer the direction of future energy systems.Led in partnership by BEIS and the&nbsp;UK's National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL),&nbsp;AFCP pioneers a uniquely collaborative approach to innovation. Uniting NNL’s unique nuclear infrastructure with the innovative skills and capabilities of more than 100 organisations across over 10 countries, AFCP is delivering a suite of fuel cycle science themes with measurable impact across Britain’s evolving low-carbon landscape.<h3>Fuel cycle themes</h3>AFCP is divided into 11 distinct themes covering Advanced Nuclear Fuels through to Advanced Recycling and Sustainability.&nbsp;Together, these themes span the nuclear fuel cycle to enable future nuclear innovation and deployment in the UK.&nbsp;Advanced nuclear fuels<ul><li>Accident tolerant fuel: AFCP is elevating advanced technology fuels to realise their full range of benefits, fabricating and testing safe, affordable fuels of the future.</li><li>Coated particle fuel: advanced kernel technology has become increasingly valuable for high-temperature reactor conversations. </li><li>Fast reactor fuel: pioneering fast reactor technologies for more energy-efficient reactors. AFCP is investigating test fuel for fast reactor technologies and transuranic materials handling techniques.</li><li>Nuclear data: improving nuclear data to make energy analysis more insightful and accurate than ever before. </li></ul>Advanced recycling and sustainability<ul><li>Aqueous recycle: efficient recycling of water-based by-product is essential to reduce the amount and radiotoxicity of nuclear material.</li><li>Off gas capture: minimising the environmental impact of advanced recycling while ensuring industry can effectively meet regulation standards.</li><li>Pyro-processing: understanding the chemical and physical changes that can transform used nuclear reactor material into new fuel. </li><li>Waste immobilisation technologies: developing innovative technologies to safely store solid material for generations to come. </li><li>Solvent and effluent treatment: exploring alternative ways of safely treating solvent and effluents resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear material in a sustainable, resource-efficient manner. </li><li>Pyro waste: developing technological innovations around safely reprocessing molten salt material. This work develops UK expertise through enhanced understanding of the fuel cycle. </li><li>Fast reactor fuel recycle: developing efficient plutonium recycling routes to reduce raw material usage. Efficiently managing fast reactor material will ensure a sustainable fuel cycle. </li></ul>

Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme

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The pilot Advanced Nuclear Skills and Innovation Campus (ANSIC) is a first-of-its-kind programme for the nuclear sector. Funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and delivered by the <a href="https://www.nnl.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(63, 81, 181);">National Nuclear Laboratory</a> (NNL), the campus will be based at NNL’s Preston Laboratory. ANSIC will unite industry and academia to collaborate on projects which help develop and commercialise advanced nuclear technologies in support of the long-term zero-carbon future.The campus will oversee awards of £1 million into the UK industrial and academic supply chain through a variety of competitive open calls and challenges. Technical and operational support will also be provided by NNL in the delivery of successful bids.Important on-site training and educational opportunities at the campus will help ensure the UK has the necessary skills to maintain its position at the forefront of ground-breaking nuclear research and development.Building on the UK’s long-standing nuclear expertise, ANSIC will support the nation’s nuclear sector to develop operational capacity and deliver new technologies to meet the challenges of deep decarbonisation.Two calls for innovation are now live through ANSIC. <a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/challenge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Find out more</a>.Please note that specific IP arrangements are in place for funding applications made to Game Changers for ANSIC opportunities. More information can be found in our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/static/u/ANSIC%20funding%20FAQs%203.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ANSIC funding FAQs document</a>.