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Nuclear Energy Insider speaks with University of Bristol’s Professor David Smith, who, together with Professor Chris Grovenor at Oxford, is leading the recently launched Nuclear Research Centre (NRC).

David outlines the industry benefits of combining the nation’s leading nuclear experts into one Centre and highlights just how little the general public appreciates how important safely maintaining and rebuilding nuclear power plants is for the UK’s future energy security.

“Nuclear has provided about 20 per cent of our power here in the UK; this level of power just does not grow on trees. The general public does not appreciate what 20 per cent of their energy represents—you could smother the UK with wind turbines and never produce that level of power,” he says.

Interview by Katherine Steiner-Dicks

Nuclear Energy Insider: What is the aim of the new Nuclear Research Centre?

DS: The nuclear programmes at the universities of Oxford and Bristol have up to now worked independently, so one of the aims of the Nuclear Research Centre is to provide a critical mass of researchers and greater synergy.

Nuclear Energy Insider: There is often an issue with universities sharing proprietary research as this can be pegged directly to future funding and grants, how will Oxford and Bristol work in harmony in this regard?

DS: Like the universities, the funding for the Centre comes from similar sources. For example, in the case of Bristol funding has come from EDF and Rolls-Royce, and similar funding is being provided by these companies and others to Oxford. We can provide more effective research outcomes by doing the work together. Sponsors can be confident in the fact that in some cases they can have two researchers working on a particular subject, but also a team of people coming together, too.

Nuclear Energy Insider: Which segments of the nuclear energy sector will benefit the most and how can organisations and individuals get involved?

DS: We have created three themes of activities. One area, for example, is applied research and that is related to existing nuclear systems and extending them safely.

Nuclear Energy Insider: Do you expect that the Centre will be of hub of commercial spin-out activity?

DS: Universities have always been there to provide research and academic excellence. If there are spin-off opportunities I am sure the universities will consider them. But at the end of the day the universities are there it ensure that my expertise is being used to make sure that nuclear systems are operating safely.

In addition to being funded by industry we are also funded by UK government research councils, the European Community to look at nuclear issues. The universities will always act independently and the companies recognise that that is a good benefit.

Nuclear Energy Insider: How will you be promoting the Nuclear Research Centre to bring more companies or foreign universities on board?

DS: All of us are well connected in the nuclear sector since our track record has been funded by industry and governments. Our aim is to demonstrate that there is critical mass of researchers working together in the South and South West to bring added value to the nuclear community .

We will be inviting all the people we know to our November 8 launch event to demonstrate new areas of research and funding.

Nuclear Energy Insider: How is it being funded currently and in the future?

DS: By bringing those sources together—governments resources and industry—creates leverage. For example, research councils are always ensuring that their research is a benefit to industry, they in turn will want to see industry to match their investment by a means of leverage. For every 200,000 pounds awarded from councils there will be additional funding from industry to support the work. Industry benefits because they are effectively getting double the amount of money and effort being done on the research, which is probably more than they alone could do.

Nuclear Energy Insider: Do you believe there is still a skills gap that needs to be filled for the nuclear energy industry?

DS: There has not been a great deal invested into new talent in the nuclear industry until about five years ago. The Nuclear Skills Academy has been instrumental in this across the various parts of the industry. This has acted as a mechanism to bring in new people, which has been backed by government and industry.

There are countless times when industry knocks on my door asking where they can find skilled engineers and in recent years graduates have been attracted to the nuclear industry, partly because there is a buzz irrespective of Fukushima.. They see how important it is to maintain energy security for the UK.

Nuclear has provided 20 per cent of our power here in the UK; this level of power just does not grow on trees. The general public does not appreciate what 20 per cent of their energy represents—you could smother the UK with wind turbines and never produce that level of power.

Nuclear Energy Insider: With so much focus on safety and maintenance protocols following the Fukushima events and safety issues emerging in older reactors in markets, such as the US, what is the research centre doing to help UK NPP operators in the UK?

DS: One area that we are proud of is a group called the Safety Systems Research Centre, which is ensuring that our nuclear power systems are reliable and robust. The resilience of computer systems is one of the key features of nuclear operating systems. Much of our daily lives are based on computer systems, many of which have faults in them. However, you wouldn’t want those types of faults to shut down a nuclear power station, so these systems must be extremely resilient.

Nuclear Energy Insider: Will the centre act as a nuclear cluster for the UK and where is skilled talent coming from to run the centre and its projects?

DS: It would be nice to see it as a cluster and we are discussing with industry in our region in the South and South West about creating a cluster which helps SMEs get engaged in the sector. The UK already has nuclear clusters within the universities of the North West, such as Manchester and Lancaster and in the North East there’s Leeds and Sheffield and of course Oxford, Bristol, Cambridge and UCL in the South. UK plc effectively has to be its own nuclear cluster.