UK Business Information / Nuclear

Nuclear power is becoming an increasingly high priority for the UK, as it seeks to become less reliant on oil and coal imports. Much nuclear research is being undertaken in the UK, both investigating how to decommission old nuclear power stations and how to build more efficient, less environmentally harmful new stations.

NORTH WEST

In its prime, nuclear power was generating 25% of the UK's energy needs. The North West was the powerhouse of the nuclear industry, with plants such as Sellafield providing much of the output. And the region remains the centre of the nuclear industry in the UK to this day.

The National Nuclear Laboratory has bases in six places in the UK, four of them in the North West. A nuclear technology services provider, it offers customers tailored solutions in areas such as waste management, nuclear science and plant process support.

The Dalton Nuclear Institute at the University of Manchester is at the forefront of Nuclear R&D in the UK. Providing specialist research to the industry, it has two dedicated R&D centre: Centre for Nuclear Energy Technology (C-NET) and Nuclear AMRC, a joint initiative with the University of Sheffield. Both centres have strong industry links.

FURTHER RESOURCES

The Office for Nuclear Development (OND), part of the wider Department for Energy & Climate Change, is the regulator for the nuclear sector in the UK. Its remit also covers the transportation of radioactive materials.

OND commission an interesting report, Next Generation, looking at the future of the nuclear sector in the UK. It can be viewed here.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is the body responsible for decommissioning old nuclear power stations. There is also a useful link to other science and technology research bodies on its website, here.

The Nuclear Education Technology Consortium is a collaboration between a host of universities. Between them, the participating universities account for 90% of the nuclear postgraduate teaching expertise in the UK.

The Technology Strategy Board provides grants for innovation in all sectors, including nuclear. It recently gave a £2 million grant to strengthen nuclear R&D in the UK.