Calder Bain, a member of the design team working on decommissioning the Prototype Fast Reactor at Dounreay in Scotland, explains how simple solutions sometimes work best. Recently Dounreay staff stuck to this approach when searching for a way to take metal samples from the base of a reactor.
Stuart Blair, Higher Activity Waste Production Manager at Magnox Ltd, describes how lessons learned have meant that the second of Hunterston’s five concrete waste bunkers has now been successfully emptied of its hazardous contents – using 23 less containers than the first bunker clearance, and completing 6 weeks ahead of schedule.
Paul Oswald, Site Delivery Manager at Magnox Ltd, describes how, 50 years after its accumulation and a number of failed attempts to retrieve it, a uniquely complex range of mixed waste is finally being retrieved from the vaults where it was kept. Find out more about the work to ensure safe storage of this radioactive waste.
Darrell Morris, NDA's Technical Assurance Manager, explains why innovation is so important for nuclear decommissioning. He encourages UK businesses to consider how their techniques and technology might address some of the challenges faced in our mission to decommission the UK's nuclear legacy.
Bill Hamilton, Head of Stakeholder Relations, reports on recent web chats with those interested in NDA’s draft strategy for consultation. He suggests that anyone interested in what questions other people ask, can read the transcripts online.
Rick Short, Research Manager, reports on a recent seminar where NDA-funded PhD students presented their work to their academic peers, technical leads from the NDA’s estate and industry representatives. He outlines the value of their research for the NDA and how the event helped them see where they could make a difference.
Melanie Brownridge, Head of Technology, announces a £500,000 contribution from the NDA for innovative technology projects. This boosts Innovate UK’s recently announced Energy Game Changer funding to a total of £2 million. Melanie encourages innovative SMEs from outside the nuclear sector to apply for this funding and test how feasible their novel and radical ideas might be.
Adrian Simper, Strategy and Technology Director, thanks stakeholders for considering the issues in the NDA's draft revised strategy. He outlines plans for further engagement during the consultation period, and emphasises that he is keen to hear from people and organisations who are interested in how we decommission our 17 UK sites.
NDA's Head of Technology, Melanie Brownridge, explains how the NDA ensures the right level of research and development helps progress the decommissioning mission. Melanie seeks feedback on this approach via the consultation on NDA’s draft revised strategy.
Calder Bain, who started his apprenticeship in the 1960s at Dounreay and worked on the Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR) before it was built, is part of the site’s in-house design team responsible for safely dismantling the reactor. He ponders on the unique challenges they face.
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