Systems and engineering technology consultancy, Frazer-Nash, has been selected to deliver a major contract in support of the government's nuclear research and development (R&D) programme.
Project FORCE will deliver R&D to support the development of the UK's capability in nuclear materials, advanced manufacturing and modular build for the reactors of the future. This R&D will improve the understanding and modelling of advanced joining technologies, including welding, in the nuclear industry. The project forms part of a wider Nuclear Innovation Programme, being run by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Business and Industry Minister, Richard Harrington said:
"Nuclear power plays an important role in maintaining a diverse electricity supply. Our Industrial Strategy aims to make Britain the world's most innovative economy, by supporting UK businesses, like Frazer-Nash Consultancy, so they can take full advantage of this opportunity and drive forward the UK's nuclear energy capability."
Nial Greeves, Senior Business Executive for Power at Frazer-Nash, said:
"We are very excited to be part of this collaborative programme, and have brought together a cross-industry consortium to create the strongest possible R&D base to enable us to develop and exploit the results of our research.
"Our R&D will cover residual stress modelling, probabilistic modelling and fracture modelling of welding. Welding is a technology that links all current reactor technologies and future (Gen IV) reactor technologies, decommissioning and other high value manufacturing driven industries.
"Developing the knowledge, skills and capabilities required to remove the blockers to implementing new welding technologies will provide the UK with a real global value proposition for the future, helping us to move towards a new generation of nuclear reactors."
