Open post

Sellafield £4.6 billion high hazard framework

Sellafield has awarded a new £4.6 billion high hazard risk reduction framework contract to Amentum (remediation and hazardous waste retrieval), Atkins Realis and Altrad (decommissioning and nuclear waste management.), through the Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Partnership (DNWP).

The Decommissioning Alliance (TDA) is A joint venture involving Amentum, AtkinsRéalis & Westinghouse, handling pond retrievals.

The framework agreement will focus on the retrieval, storage and treatment of waste materials from the oldest facilities on the site and will be in place for 15-years.

All the companies involved with develop a sustainability plan to enhance collaboration with local priorities, ROI and delivering impact.

James Riddick, Sellafield Ltd chief supply chain officer, said:

“Cleaning up the legacy of historic operations on our site is at the heart of our mission. It is important that we achieve this safely, efficiently, and sustainably – our supply chain, and this partnership plays a key role in that.

We’re pleased to welcome our new partners. Their specialist capabilities and teams, working alongside our skilled Sellafield workforce, will help us deliver our mission and drive progress both on site and across our wider community.

Just as importantly, these partners share our values and our commitment to creating lasting social value for the communities we serve.”

Check out the original release; https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sellafield-ltd-awards-high-hazard-risk-reduction-framework-contract

Picture: gov.uk

Open post

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Taiwan

Saft Expands APAC Footprint with Landmark Energy Storage Project in Taiwan

Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies and a global leader in advanced battery solutions, has secured a major contract to deliver a 356 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Taichung, Taiwan. This milestone project, awarded by Foxwell Power Co., marks Saft’s 11th contract in Taiwan and its largest to date, reinforcing its strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The BESS will play a pivotal role in supporting Taiwan’s ambitious 2050 net zero strategy, helping to stabilize the grid and manage the intermittency of renewable energy sources. The system will provide frequency regulation and peak-shifting capabilities, essential for integrating renewables into the national energy mix.

Comprising 108 I-Shift lithium-ion battery containers, the installation is designed for a compact footprint and high efficiency. A key differentiator in Saft’s offering is its cybersecurity-integrated control system, developed in-house and manufactured in Europe. This AI-enabled solution meets the highest cybersecurity standards, a critical factor for Foxwell Power Co., which has now partnered with Saft on five consecutive BESS projects.

The Taichung project is scheduled to begin at the end of 2025 and continue through 2026. Upon completion, Saft’s installed energy storage capacity in Taiwan will reach 630 MWh, underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to energy innovation and regional collaboration.

“The success of this partnership is built on years of mutual trust and shared vision for a sustainable energy future,” said Vincent Le Quintrec, ESS Sales Director at Saft.

Click for official story: https://saft.com/en/media-resources/press-release/saft-strengthens-its-apac-presence-major-bess-project-taiwan-0

Picture courtesy of: SAFT

Open post

Ocean-based energy storage raises $8 million

Sizable Energy Secures $8M to Launch Ocean-Based Energy Storage

Sizable Energy, a startup founded by engineers from nuclear, mechanical, and maritime backgrounds, has raised $8 million to accelerate the commercial rollout of its offshore pumped hydro energy storage system—a gravity-based solution designed to store gigawatt-scale power beneath the ocean’s surface.

The funding round, led by Playground Global, follows successful testing at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) and the launch of new sea trials off the coast of Reggio Calabria, Italy. The company’s patented system pumps dense salt brine from the seabed to a surface reservoir, using ocean depth as a natural energy storage medium.

Unlike traditional onshore pumped hydro, which is limited by geography and environmental constraints, Sizable’s modular, scalable, and invisible-from-shore design offers a faster, more flexible path to long-duration energy storage (LDES)—a critical need as global demand is expected to reach 120 TWh by 2040.

With a megawatt-scale pilot in the Mediterranean on the horizon and commercial projects planned for 2026, Sizable Energy is positioning itself as a key player in the clean energy transition.

Why It Matters for Nuclear Careers

This project highlights how nuclear-trained engineers and systems thinkers are driving innovation beyond traditional boundaries. As the energy sector evolves, cross-disciplinary expertise—from nuclear safety to marine engineering—is becoming essential to solving complex infrastructure challenges.

If you’re passionate about energy resilience, systems design, or sustainable innovation, this is the kind of frontier where your skills can make a global impact.

https://www.sizableenergy.com/news/2l26pidy71-sizable-energy-raises-8-million-to-launc

Picture from: Sizable Energy

Open post

Sellafield & RAICo facility simulator

Virtual Innovation Enhances Nuclear Waste Handling Safety at Sellafield

A cutting-edge simulation project is transforming how nuclear waste is managed at one of the UK’s most hazardous legacy facilities—Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Cladding Silo (PFCS). Originally built in the 1950s, the PFCS is now being decommissioned, with robotic systems playing a vital role in safely handling radioactive waste.

To reduce risk and downtime during upgrades to these robotic systems, RAICo and Sellafield Ltd developed a virtual replica of the facility using advanced 3D scanning, CAD modelling, and RAICo’s RHOVR simulation platform. This digital twin allows engineers to test software and hardware changes in a photorealistic environment before applying them in the real facility.

The result? Fewer human entries into hazardous zones, reduced downtime, and safer, more efficient upgrades to robotic systems. The simulator is already in use at Sellafield’s Engineering Centre of Excellence and could soon be adapted for other waste-handling operations across the site.

This project is a powerful example of how robotics, simulation, and cross-sector collaboration are accelerating innovation in nuclear decommissioning—while keeping people safe and building the digital skills needed for the future.

https://raico.org/a-simulation-of-a-nuclear-facility-makes-it-safer-to-upgrade-waste-handling-robots/

Picture from: RAICo

Open post

ZNPP successfully reconnect Ukraine’s electrical grid

The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine has been successfully reconnected to the national grid after enduring a full month without external power.

This reconnection was made possible through repairs conducted under a locally negotiated ceasefire, facilitated and monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The restored 750 kV Dniprovska power line now supplies the electricity needed to cool the plant’s six inactive reactors and spent fuel, allowing the shutdown of emergency diesel generators that had been sustaining the site.

This marks the tenth—and longest—complete loss of off-site power for ZNPP since the conflict began.

The IAEA praised technicians on both sides of the frontline for their cooperation and resilience in restoring power under challenging conditions.

Further repairs are planned for the damaged Ferosplavna-1 line, with the IAEA continuing to advocate for adherence to its Five Concrete Principles to prevent nuclear accidents, especially the protection of off-site power.

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-323-iaea-director-general-statement-on-situation-in-ukraine

 

Picture: IAEA / ZNPP / UKRINFORM

Open post

Palisades receives new fuel for restart

The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan has reached a key step toward restarting operations by receiving 68 newly manufactured fuel assemblies. This fuel delivery follows extensive planning and regulatory coordination, made possible by the plant’s recent reclassification from decommissioned to operational status by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Produced by a trusted domestic supplier, the fuel underwent thorough inspection before being securely stored in the Spent Fuel Pool Building, awaiting future installation in the reactor core. Alongside this, major restoration efforts continue across the facility, including the reassembly of the Main Turbine Generator and installation of the final refurbished Primary Coolant Pump motor—both essential for reactor function.

Additional work includes chemical cleaning of the Steam Generators’ secondary systems, following earlier tube refurbishments, to ensure long-term performance. These milestones are part of a broader effort involving over 1,800 workers, supported by government and industry partners, to bring the plant back online and contribute to meeting growing energy demands.

Read the original release: https://holtecinternational.com/2025/10/20/hh-40-22/

 

Picture courtesy of: Holtec

Open post

Finland is “the most prepared” for fusion

Nordic Fusion Prospects: VTT Report Highlights Best Locations for Pilot Reactor.

A new report by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, commissioned by Novatron Fusion Group (NFG), identifies the most promising Nordic locations for a pilot fusion reactor. As fusion energy edges closer to commercial viability, the study evaluates Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden for their readiness to host such a facility.

Key Findings:

  • Finland leads in regulatory preparedness, with reforms to its Nuclear Energy Act expected by 2027.
  • Top candidate regions include:
    • Helsinki metropolitan area (Finland)
    • Stockholm–Nyköping corridor (Sweden)
    • Copenhagen–Malmö region (Denmark/Sweden)
  • Ideal sites are near industrial zones with strong transport links and proximity to research hubs.

The report emphasizes the importance of cross-border collaboration, legislative clarity, and strategic planning to accelerate fusion deployment. NFG’s magnetic mirror reactor concept aims to deliver cost-effective, clean energy, with pilot construction targeted for the 2030s.

Energy company St1 has invested €13 million in NFG, reinforcing the region’s commitment to fossil-free energy innovation.

“Fusion breakthroughs are no longer theoretical,” said Finland’s Climate Minister Sari Multala. “The Nordics are ready to lead.”

Read the full report here.

 

Picture from: VTT

Open post

Cotswold School Career Fair

We were in attendance 22.10.25 for the Cotswold School Career Fair with Women in Nuclear (WiN) Central England branch to talk about nuclear careers.

The day offered us the chance to talk with secondary school students in order to spark their interest in careers in STEM.

Many of the students we spoke to were interested to know what they could do with a science, maths or engineering education and what the future career possibilities looked like.

A big focus for us is a broad engineering background as this enables the learner to have a diverse perspective, a transferable skill set and strong foundations to move into a multitude of job functions.

Something to bear in mind for the nuclear sector is the unknown job roles of tomorrow as there are many opportunities ahead of us that are still developing.

So, whether you’re interested in the environment & sustainability, business management, engineering, science, or community engagement, there are a plethora of job functions, careers and opportunities that will suit all individuals.

Open post

Solidifying Hanford waste in glass

The Hanford site, based in Benton County, Washington, has started up its low-level waste facility where a crucial element of the plant is solidifying the Hanford tank waste in glass.

The Hanford waste treatment plant is designed to safely process 56 million gallons of radioactive waste that is stored in its tanks.

This site was initially used for plutonium production during WWII and the Cold War, and it is now critical that the site addresses its environmental legacy through the plants primary mission to safely treat and stabalise radioactive & chemical waste through a process called vitrification. The waste gets mixed with glass-forming materials and heated to ~2,100 degrees Fahrenheit to create a stable glass form.

“The Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant represents a monumental effort in environmental remediation, aiming to mitigate the risks associated with decades of nuclear waste storage. With ongoing advancements and successful operational milestones, the plays a crucial role in the long-term cleanup and safety of the Hanford Site and surrounding communities”

https://www.hanfordvitplant.com/newsroom/the-hanford-site-begins-solidifying-tank-waste-in-glass

Picture from: Hanford Vit Plant

Open post

NVIDIA & OpenAI announce deployment of 10GW systems

Last month OpenAI & NVIDIA announced a partnership that would see them deploy NVIDIA Systems for OpenAI’s next gen AI infrastructure.

NIVIDA is investing $100 billion to OpenAI where the first phase will come online toward the back end of 2026 using the NVIDIA Vera Rubin Platform.

“NVIDIA and OpenAI have pushed each other for a decade, from the first DGX supercomputer to the breakthrough of ChatGPT,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “This investment and infrastructure partnership mark the next leap forward — deploying 10 gigawatts to power the next era of intelligence.”

“Everything starts with compute,” said Sam Altman, cofounder and CEO of OpenAI. “Compute infrastructure will be the basis for the economy of the future, and we will utilize what we’re building with NVIDIA to both create new AI breakthroughs and empower people and businesses with them at scale.”

Read the full story here: https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/openai-and-nvidia-announce-strategic-partnership-to-deploy-10gw-of-nvidia-systems

Picture: NVIDIA site

Posts navigation

1 2 3 4
Scroll to top