The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has renewed its
multimillion-pound Embedded Engineering Resource Framework (“the
Framework”) with seven companies. The renewal follows a
successful four-year supply of a breadth of engineering resources
to UKAEA in support of its mission to deliver fusion energy.
The Framework, with a value up to £9m, supports the development
of a UK industrial supply chain capability. It affords companies
the opportunity to embed and upskill their own engineers within
the multiple projects and programme areas at UKAEA as it
undertakes fusion energy research.
Gary Stables, Engineering Frameworks Contract Project Manager,
UKAEA, said:
Embedding engineers within UKAEA is a win-win. The embedded
engineers help to progress key fusion projects, while gaining
valuable skills and experience in fusion. Boosting fusion
expertise across the engineering sector is vital for the
development of fusion energy and maximising the benefits to
industry.
Following the success of the first Embedded Engineering Resource
Framework, UKAEA will be renewing it for another four years. Now
with increased capacity to access technical expertise from
selected industrial partners, the Framework will help accelerate
the commercialisation of fusion energy.
Additionally the Framework continues to create the opportunity
for companies to collaborate with each other on fusion projects
and, crucially, to bring in their supply chain to support fusion
projects growing the fusion ecosystem.
The framework features companies with expertise in some or all of
the following disciplines:
- mechanical engineering
- process engineering
- electrical, control & instrumentation engineering
- engineering analysis and code development
- materials engineering
- systems engineering
Successes from the past four years include embedding more than 80
engineers within the following programme areas:
- JET Decommissioning and Repurposing (JDR)
- Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE)
- Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Upgrade
- Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP)
- Fusion Technology (FT)
- Materials Research Facility (MRF)
UKAEA technical leads and embedded engineers have given feedback
on the benefits of the Framework:
Ben Quirk, Senior Mechanical Engineer, UKAEA, said:
Working on the industry survey of available technologies for
sub-surface damage inspection with the embedded engineer was very
rewarding. They did an excellent job leading the investigation
into potential technologies to undertake in-bore pipe repair. The
engineer worked in collaboration with a wide-ranging team of
engineers – both within UKAEA and from partner organisations –
and gained skills and know-how about additive manufacturing
techniques for the fusion market.
Dean McGarragel, Mechanical Engineer, M5tec, said:
Working on this project has furthered my knowledge of fusion
technologies, particularly the materials required in a fusion
environment and their properties. I also gained insight into
modern UK additive manufacturing, the material deposition
technology sector, and the capabilities and constraints
associated with these technologies. Working with a team of
engineers, embedded within UKAEA, from a range of companies and
backgrounds, was an inspiring example of cross-collaboration to
advance fusion energy and position the UK as a global leader in
the industry.
The companies which are part of the renewed Framework are:
- Amentum Clean Energy Ltd
- AtkinsRėalis Ltd
- BakerHicks Ltd
- Demcon Multiphysics B.V
- Frazer Nash Consultancy Ltd
- Optima Systems Consultancy Ltd
- Oxford Sigma Ltd
