Nuclear fission is key to deploying reliable low-carbon power at scale and in the UK as the percentage of electricity generated by nuclear power increases the need to ensure a secure supply of fuel for our reactor fleet will become even more pertinent. Nearly all the UKs historic and existing nuclear reactors have been fuelled using a UK-led supply chain for uranium enrichment and fuel fabrication. With the anticipated development of a fleet of various Gigawatt (GWe) reactors, Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR) it is likely that the UK supply chain will need to meet demand for a range of different fuel types: for reactors which are currently deployed or in construction in the UK or internationally, and for advanced reactors which are not currently operational but first of a kind (FOAK) projects. It is essential that accumulated skills are maintained and enhanced, whilst undertaking world leading, cutting-edge research, as both are crucial for the successful delivery of new nuclear generation.
To support these national mission endeavours the UKNNL-Uranics Bursary scheme is delivered through the DESNZ Nuclear Fuel Fund Uranics Innovation Centre to enable and encourage students to work on topics of national priority relating to uranium based nuclear fuels and supporting front end fuel cycle activities with a focus on:
1. Purification
2. Conversion
3. Deconversion