C2I 2019: Alternative source of nuclear power represents lightbulb moment for space travel

The RTG designed by the Leicester team uses americium derived from the UK's civil plutonium stockpile as its active element

Category: Aerospace and defence

Winner: UK Scientists generate electricity from rare element to power future space missions

Partners: University of Leicester, National Nuclear Laboratory & European Thermodynamics Ltd

Category Sponsor: High-Value Manufacturing Catapult

Britain has a unique problem – the world’s largest stockpile of civil plutonium. Built up over seven decades, almost 140 tonnes of the radioactive metal sit in secure storage at Sellafield, and are officially classified as nuclear waste. However, it is potentially a fuel for the nation’s nuclear power stations, but not in its current form. The question of what to do with the UK’s plutonium has dogged successive governments. The winner’s trophy for this year’s aerospace category  has gone to Richard Ambrosi from the University of Leicester, who led a collaboration with the UK National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) to extract a fuel from the stockpiled plutonium that could power humanity’s exploration of the distant solar system.