Details of Grant

EPSRC Reference:

EP/Y034856/1

Title:

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear (SATURN)

Principal Investigator:

Other Investigators:

Patterson, Professor EA	Patel, Professor MK	Hanson, Professor BC
Boxall, Professor C	Lunn, Professor RJ	Walkley, Dr B

Researcher Co-Investigators:

Project Partners:

AWE	Babcock International Group Plc (UK)	Copenhagen Atomics
EDF	Environment Agency (Grouped)	Framatome ANP
Fraser-Nash Consultancy Ltd	Jacobs UK Limited	Lucideon Ltd
McMaster University	National Nuclear Laboratory	National Physical Laboratory NPL
National Tsing Hua University	Nuclear Decommissioning Authority	Nuclear Waste Services
Oak Ridge National Laboratory	Rolls-Royce Plc (UK)	UK Atomic Energy Authority
University of Sheffield

Department:

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Organisation:

University of Manchester, The

Scheme:

Centre for Doctoral Training

Starts:

01 April 2024

Ends:

30 September 2032

Value (£):

12,533,677

EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:

Energy - Nuclear

EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:

Energy

Related Grants:

Panel History:

Panel Date	Panel Name	Outcome
21 Nov 2023	EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training Interview Panel C November 2023	Announced

Summary on Grant Application Form

Since the 2004 Energy Act, nuclear fission has rapidly grown, and continues to grow, in significance in the UK's Energy and Net Zero Strategies.

Government's Nuclear Industrial Strategy states clearly that the nuclear sector is integral to increasing productivity, driving growth across the country and meeting our Net Zero target. Nuclear is, and will continue to be, a vital part of our energy mix, providing low carbon power now and into the future, and the safe and efficient decommissioning of our nuclear legacy is an area of world-leading expertise. In order for this to be possible we need to underpin the skill base. The primary aim of SATURN is to provide high quality research training in the science and engineering underpinning nuclear fission technology, focussed on three broad themes:

Current Nuclear Programmes. Decommissioning and cleanup; spent fuel and nuclear materials management; geological disposal; current operating reactors (AGRs, Sizewell B, propulsion); new build reactors (Hinkley C, Sizewell C, possibly Wylfa Newydd;

Future Nuclear Energy: Advanced nuclear reactors (light water reactors, including PWR3, gas cooled reactors, liquid metal cooled reactors, other concepts); advanced fuel cycles; fusion (remote handling, tritium);

Nuclear Energy in a Wider Context: Economics and finance; societal issues; management; regulation; technology transfer (e.g. robotics, sensors); manufacturing; interaction of infrastructure and environment; systems engineering.

It has become clear that skills are very likely to limit the UK's nuclear capacity, with over half of the civil nuclear workforce and 70% of Subject Matter Experts due to retire by 2025. High level R&D skills are therefore on the critical path for all the UK's nuclear ambitions and, because of the 10-15 year lead time needed to address this shortage, urgent action is needed now.

SATURN is a collaborative CDT involving the Universities of Manchester, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and Strathclyde, which aims to develop the next generation of nuclear research leaders and deliver underpinning (Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1-3), long term science and engineering to meet the national priorities identified in Government's Nuclear Industrial Vision. SATURN also provides a pathway for mid technology level research (TRL 4-6) to be carried out by allowing projects to be based partly or entirely in an industrial setting. The consortium partners have been instrumental in a series of highly successful CDTs, Nuclear FiRST (2009-2013), NGN (Next Generation Nuclear, 2013-2018) and GREEN (Growing skills for Reliable, Economic Energy from Nuclear, 2018-2023). In collaboration with an expanded group of key nuclear industry partners SATURN will create a step-change in PhD training to deliver a high-quality PhD programme tailored to student needs; high profile, high impact outreach; and adventurous doctoral research which underpins real industry challenges.

Key Findings

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Potential use in non-academic contexts

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Impacts

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Summary
Date Materialised

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Project URL:

Further Information:

Organisation Website:

http://www.man.ac.uk