Next Generation Accelerated Characterisation Technologies (EXACT)

ddc2850f-4f6b-427f-a6a7-8b307704bbd9

Closed

EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC

£5,476,565

Nov. 1, 2019

April 30, 2023

Effective radioactive waste management is critically dependent on robust, focussed and efficient waste characterisation in order to reliably inform all management steps (including waste recovery, treatment / recycling, conditioning, storage, waste disposal) and the safety of the operators, the general public and the environment. The proposed NNUF-EXACT laboratory will be a world-leading radiochemistry facility enabling research and training in accelerated nuclear characterisation technologies underpinning civil (and Defence, where this overlaps with EPSRC remit) nuclear programmes, nuclear forensics, decommissioning and site clean-up, and nuclear new build. EXACT will provide an easily accessible state-of-the-art test-bed facility and supporting infrastructure for research, technology development (and validation), and training in in-situ, on-site and off-site characterisation methods, including for complex / problem waste streams.

Potential Impact:
NNUF-EXACT is a critical enabling facility for diverse, high importance research applications that align with EPSRC priorities, themes and strategies in Nuclear Fission, and a range of related research themes and areas in energy, engineering, and manufacturing the future. The Facility will benefit academic researchers and existing EPSRC nuclear research consortia, the nuclear industry and its supply chain, and the general public - research enabled by this facility will address key societal challenges in relation to productive and resilient nation outcomes, through the development of next generation technologies and by ensuring effective and affordable solutions for nuclear waste treatment.
The majority of the societal, commercial or other impact from NNUF-EXACT will be realised (a) through a wide range of research enabled by the Facility, and (b) provision of advanced radiochemical and analytical training. As well as directly underpinning research and skills and technology development in the Nuclear Fission EPSRC research area, the proposed facility will offer a timely and extended solution for the wider EPSRC community, by providing a flexible low-level radiochemistry test-bed capability to the broader EPRSC research and industry communities, permitting evaluation and validation of emerging technologies and characterisation systems using nuclear-relevant materials, and promoting flow of skills and technologies between non-nuclear and nuclear research and sectors. The combination of a state-of-the-art and flexible radiochemistry facility, associated instrumentation and expertise will provide a unique training environment supporting the maintenance of skill sets associated with nuclear characterisation, and decommissioning and nuclear new-build, supporting the academic nuclear research base and enhancing the SQEP (Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel) community of Characterisation specialists in the nuclear industry, which is identified as a key risk to the Industry's decommissioning programmes in the near future. The provision of a world-leading training facility for characterisation will enable ongoing training of skilled practitioners and maintain the UK lead in characterisation, supporting decommissioning, waste characterisation and nuclear power production in a critical period for the UK nuclear sector and nuclear skills base.