Nuclear

The world’s first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in the UK in 1956; the industry now directly employs over 44,000 people in the UK.

Nuclear power at its peak provided round 20% of the UK’s electricity although many of the nuclear power stations are coming to the end of life and the contribution today is 15%. 

We now stand at the dawn of a nuclear renaissance with plans to build up to eight new reactors over the next couple of decades.

This will provide substantial opportunities for UK companies involved in the nuclear supply chain.

The industry operators are supported by a wide variety of supply chain companies, such as engineering and construction contractors, fabricators of specialist equipment, manufacturers and specialist service providers. Companies involved in the design or supply of safety related equipment or materials must meet strict quality requirements and need underpinning knowledge about the work of the industry.  With the prospect of new nuclear build, this supply chain is growing and extending its capability.

The UK is about to undertake a major programme of nuclear new build. Background: In January 2008 Government announced that it was in the public interest that new nuclear should play a role in the UKs future energy mix. As such, Government invited companies to come forward with plans for the development of new nuclear power stations. 

Though government is not directly involved in new nuclear developments, the Office for Nuclear Development (OND), which is part of the Department for Energy and Climate change (DECC) is involved in developing the stable policy framework which is essential for new build, removing unnecessary barriers and implementing facilitative actions. The DECC new build timeline  provides an overview of government actions and how they relate to processes being run by the regulators and activity by potential investors.

Utilities: EDF purchased British Energy and all its assets including land at Bradwell, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point and Sizewell in January 2009. EDF and Centrica have formed a 80/20 joint venture to take forward plans to build 6.4GW of new nuclear at Hinkley Point and Sizewell using the Areva EPR reactor technology.  

E.On and RWE have formed a joint venture known as Horizon Nuclear Power. Horizon purchased land at Wylfa and Oldbury and announced their intention to build at least 6GW of new nuclear capacity. Horizon is due to make its choice of reactor technology at the beginning of 2011.

Iberdrola, GDF Suez and Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) formed the consortium NuGeneration Ltd and purchased land at Sellafield where they have announced plans to build 3.6GW of new nuclear. The consortium have yet to decide which reactor technology they will use.

Reactor technologies: The UK new build programme will be based upon proven international designs – which will have been built elsewhere in the world before they are developed in the UK. Two designs are currently undergoing the Generic Design Assessment reactor-review process in the UK; the Areva EPR and the Westinghouse AP1000.

What quality codes and standards will I need to meet? The codes and standards will be graded dependent on what you intend to supply. However, quality is of utmost importance regardless of what you are supplying and must meet appropriate specification http://www.nuclearsupplychain.com/quality-and-accreditation

As of 2011, the United Kingdom operates 19 nuclear reactors at nine locations. The country also operates a nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield.

The new build programme in the UK will present many significant opportunities for suppliers .

Major nuclear companies have also set up dedicated supplier areas for UK companies interested in exploring supply chain opportunities directly with those organisations. http://www.nuclearsupplychain.com/register-as-a-supplier

NOF Energy work very closely with The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) which is the trade association and representative voice of Britain's civil nuclear industry. NIA operate SC@nuclear which is a programme to support SME’s enter the new nuclear build supply chain.  Full information at www.nuclearsupplychain.com