Moving waste materials within storage silo compartments

A significant challenge in the decommissioning of Sellafield site is emptying radioactive waste from the Magnox Swarf Storage Silos (MSSS). To date, the removal of waste material from MSSS compartments has been performed by the Silo Emptying Plant (SEP), which is only able to retrieve waste in the central area of a compartment resulting in the formation of a crater.

Sellafield Ltd is seeking a new approach to managing the removal of this waste, which can either avoid craters being created or better manage them if they are created. Additionally, an accurate method to measure the waste bed profile could significantly improve the efficiency and risk management of waste removal operations.

CHALLENGE AIMS

Sellafield Ltd is seeking methods for waste retrieval from compartments that can either ensure no craters are formed in a waste bed during the retrieval process, or that can redistribute waste to prevent craters from becoming excessive in size. Currently, post processed sonar is being trialled to provide an accurate method to measure the waste bed profile, but a real-time solution could significantly improve the efficiency and risk management of waste removal operations.

The following benefits are of particular interest:

• Avoidance of crater formation.
• Maintenance of a reasonably flat/level waste bed profile.
• Capability to image and map the waste bed profile in real time.
• Ability to sustain the current rate of retrievals operations.
• Improving the efficiency of retrievals.
• Ability to support waste retrieval for the full depth of the compartment.

Sellafield Ltd is open to solutions that either improve the efficiency of current processes or are entirely new systems. The key is to enable predictable removal of waste material from the storage compartments.

FIND OUT MORE

Please download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.

You can watch a webinar and Q&A session with the challenge owners for more information and details of how to apply.

The deadline for applications for this challenge is 3pm on Thursday 28th August 2025.

ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS

Applications 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:

1. How well does the application align with the challenge aims?
2. Is the proposed solution credible from the perspective of deployment?
3. What potential does the proposed solution have to transform practice in your area?
4. Do you feel the applicant is well placed to deliver a feasibility project?
5. Would the solution proposed in the application benefit from feasibility funding?
6. Does the application meet the scope of the challenge?