The Government should implement an independent review of the
Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process, necessary for the approval
of any nuclear reactor in the UK, to ensure that costs are not
unnecessarily added and to enable the faster approval of Small
Modular Reactors (SMRs), according to a new report by the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
The report, “Nuclear Power: A Future Pathway for
the UK”, follows Government announcements last week on its
support for the next generation of nuclear technologies. Among
the key actions the Institution’s report identifies is the need
for Government to add nuclear construction skills to the shortage
occupation list― which would allow experienced workers from
oversees to enter the UK; the need for a new Strategic Siting
Assessment to identify new potential nuclear sites beyond 2025,
including sites for SMRs and; support for the development of the
Modular Construction Park, planned for the River
Mersey.
Dr Jenifer Baxter, Head of Energy and Environment at
the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Lead Author of the
report, said:
“The delays and escalating costs of the Hinkley Point
C project, has provoked a public backlash in recent years against
nuclear power. Yet as a reliable and relatively low carbon
source of electricity, it makes sense for nuclear to form a
greater part of the UK’s future energy mix, reducing our reliance
on coal and gas.
“The key challenge is to reduce costs and delays,
which is why the Institution is proposing that Government
commissions an independent review of the GDA process to ensure
that unnecessary costs are not incurred and to make it easier to
approve SMRs.
“SMRs present a lower cost option, with comparatively
straightforward construction and, potentially, a more attractive
investment proposition than conventional larger scale nuclear
plants.
“It is also vital that as the UK prepares to leave
the European Union that nuclear construction skills are added to
the shortage occupation list ― which would allow experienced
workers from oversees to enter the UK.”
The report makes the following
recommendations:
1. The ‘Nuclear Pathway’ should be enabled through
commitment to three objectives:
• Replace old nuclear with new nuclear by 2030, and
develop a clear target and plan for future baseload capacity from
nuclear.
• Have a fleet of affordable SMRs generating by
2040.
• Develop Generation IV and Fusion plants for beyond
2050.
2. Action needs to be taken to remove three
‘road-blocks’:
• Brexatom needs to be addressed urgently, otherwise
the entire UK nuclear industry will not be able to
function.
• Publish a firm timetable and plan for the delivery
of the Geological Disposal Facility.
• Take forward firm plans for plutonium disposition,
in particular, seriously consider how the PRISM SMR could be used
to deliver a number of the objectives described
above.
3. The key facilitating actions are:
• Urgently consider ‘Alternative Funding Options’ for
nuclear projects, particularly for Wylfa Newydd and
Moorside.
• BEIS to continue the development of the ‘SMR
roadmap’ started by DECC.
• Ensure that post-Brexatom arrangements continue the
support for the development of the Fusion
programme.
• Undertake an independent review of GDA-related
design changes, to ensure that costs are not added
unnecessarily.
• Support the development of the Modular Construction
Park, planned for the River Mersey, to develop modular
construction skills and processes.
• Make available Generic Design Assessment slots for
SMRs and develop the Office for Nuclear Regulation to have the
required skills and capacity to undertake the
reviews.
• Ensure that the Nuclear Skills Strategic Plan is
effectively implemented, and add nuclear construction skills to
the ‘Tier 2 – Shortage Occupations List’.
• Undertake a new Strategic Siting Assessment to
identify potential nuclear sites for construction
beyond
