Modular manufacturing R&D centre 'to make new nuclear power stations cheaper'

A new research and development centre for nuclear equipment manufacture could cut costs and ensure projects finish on time, directors have said.

The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) opened its facility at member company Cammell Laird’s site in Birkenhead yesterday. The centre will research and develop “modular” manufacturing techniques, where complex systems such as reactors are built off-site before being transported and joined together.

The facility has specialised machining, joining and assembly equipment to develop and prove building techniques for the UK nuclear industry. Opening the centre one day after EDF announced the risk of delays at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset, NAMRC managing director Andrew Storer explained the possible benefits.

“Modularisation reduces risk in manufacturing and construction, and will help developers build new power stations on schedule and on budget, meeting our national targets for secure, cost-effective, low-carbon electricity generation,” he said. “The manufacturing techniques we will develop at the new facility can also help improve production efficiency and costs in other parts of the nuclear market, for example in the manufacture of large numbers of standardised waste boxes for the decommissioning programme.”

Cammell Laird is leading a research project on modularisation with funding from the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. The project will investigate the challenges and opportunities offered by the technique.

It is already used successfully in other industries, said energy division managing director Jonathan Brown at the 120 acre Merseyside centre. “Modularisation is widely applied on shipbuilding, civil construction and a number of other sectors where it is demonstrated to bring significant benefits in terms of cost reductions and improved schedule performance,” he said. “We are confident that when applied correctly within the nuclear sector we will see similar benefits.”