UK project aims to extend life and improve performance of nuclear plants

Nuclear power is undergoing a renaissance in the UK, thanks to concerns about greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel plants, and a major government programme of investment in the sector.

However, with the industry already facing significant skills shortages, investment in new nuclear plants and efforts to extend the lives of existing plants, alongside a parallel programme of renewal in nuclear submarines, is placing considerable strain on the industry.

The Strathclyde project, which also includes partners Babcock International Group, BAM Nuttall, Bruce Power, EDF-Energy, Kinectrics, the Weir Group, Imperial College, the Alan Turing Institute and the universities of Surrey and Cranfield, is aiming to reduce the cost of managing and maintaining existing nuclear plants, and increase their generating capacity, by improving their health.

This should help to reduce the cost of nuclear energy for consumers.

The expertise and technology produced as a result of the project will also be fed into the development of next generation nuclear plants, according to Professor Stephen McArthur at Strathclyde, who is leading the project.