Nuclear
The UK has committed to building a series of new nuclear power stations as part of its long term energy strategy. This major ‘nuclear renaissance’ programme has been driven by increasing demand, concerns about the security of energy supplies, fluctuating fossil fuel prices, the push to reduce green house gases and a strategy of having a balanced energy mix.
The planned new build programme in the UK is now approved, and projects are being developed to meet the long term programme and despite minor delays caused as a result of the Fukushima disaster, full scale development programs are beginning to start. The operation of our existing nuclear power plants and the decommissioning and subsequent waste treatment/storage of our existing sites is an on-going legacy, which demands high level skill sets, and stringent Health and Safety regimes. Enzen has in house, and is developing, high level teams to deal with the critical demands across this sector, and to enable us to provide effective solutions to the prime customers and supply chain requirements. Our teams can provide support for ‘Structured Nuclear Projects for Success’, through the Governance & Assurance, Programme Management, Systems and Plant Integration, Testing Services, Commissioning, Engineering Management, Control Systems Integration and Validation.
- Operational Management
Operating and maintaining nuclear power plants and reprocessing facilities is a complex matrix of processes and skills. From particle physics to civil and mechanical engineering, many specialist skills are required and applied to keep nuclear plants operating efficiently, effectively and safely.
- Decommissioning
Many European nuclear power plants are reaching their end of life and large scale decommissioning programmes are underway. Highly specialised skills are required to achieve the safe shut down of a nuclear plant and the safe disposal or containment of Nuclear waste. Opportunities exist in process re-engineering, systems, civil and mechanical work, monitoring systems and many other areas.
- Waste Management and Storage
Radioactive material that results from the Nuclear fission process in a reactor presents particular management, disposal and storage challenges. Specialist skills are required at all levels to ensure that the materials are managed and stored safely for the very long term.
- New Build
In many countries, including in the UK, Governments have decided to enter a new era of building Nuclear Power plants. These new plants will contribute to carbon reduction targets and will deliver a significant proportion of the nations energy requirements, however they come with a cost. Large scale investment in the new build programme is already underway and new challenges and opportunities exist in all areas.
- Research and Development
Nuclear energy and physics are a highly technical and scientific branch of the energy landscape. A continuous investment in research and development is being made to ensure greater safety, efficiency and productivity.
