Vibrant Nuclear Renaissance: Energy & Power via Modern Modular Manufacturing

Lecture Abstract:The aim of the talk is to summarise the current vibrant state of the nuclear industry by providing an overview of all of the current potential within the UK.

The Nuclear Industry is in a state of renaissance, more so than when the UK government first expressed a renewed interest in the contribution that nuclear could make as a secure source of low carbon fifteen years ago. In addition to Gigaplants such as at Hinkley there are now proposals for Small Modular Reactors that would be predominantly made in the factory thereby lowering cost and speeding build time. Following on from them are a raft of Advanced Modular Reactors that add the prospect of high temperature energy supply for industrial processes. There is even the likelihood that there will soon be military road transportable microreactor power plant in the USA and there are now four UK nuclear fusion developments with three of them privately funded.

Not since the 1960’s has there been so much diversity. Given the need for sovereign power, more and secure electrical power supply and to replace gas for industrial energy then all of these options are worthy of consideration.

Speaker Biography:Philip Vaughan is currently Vice-Chair of the North East Branch of the Nuclear Institute. He is a fellow of both the NI and the I.Mech.E. He has spent the bulk of his career in a manufacturing environment with design and installation elements when engaged with the Nuclear Industry.

He first became involved with the Nuclear Industry in the design, manufacture and installation of the internal thermal shield of the AGR at Hartlepool. This broadened to the provision of reflective metal insulation to the light water reactors. With the decline in the nuclear industry he moved into equipment for the Oil & Gas sector and then Aerospace. In the last decade he has once again been engaged with the Nuclear Industry eg waste boxes for Sellafield, RMI and modular pool liners for Hinkley Point C.

With this broad engagement with the Nuclear Industry he has benefited from working with companies all over the world and with many different reactor technologies. Allied with his design, manufacturing and installation background it gives him a particular view of the Nuclear Industry.

In addition, during lockdown he took up writing and has published two novels featuring ‘The Hairdresser and the Engineer’.

17:30 to 18:00 - In person - Tea and Coffee

18:00 - Introduction - In person talk and live stream starts

18:05 to 18:50 - Lecture Starts

18:50 to 19:30 - Q & A

19:30 - Event ends and end of live stream