THE NUCLEAR industry has recorded its largest growth in jobs and with new clean energy technology on the horizon, Cumbria just one of the regions vying for a slice of the pie.
The UK Government has already pledged to fund the development of one kind of new nuclear development at Sizewell, with ambitions to roll-out more across the country.
Here is everything you need to know about Cumbria’s role in this thriving industry.
- Small Modular Reactors
Jet engine giant Rolls Royce is behind plans to site Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) across the country.
The reactors are the most convenient form of energy production as they are developed in modules and individually transported to the site.
Hailed as ‘the next generation of low cost, low carbon nuclear power technology,’ they are a key focus of ambitions to slash harmful carbon emissions whilst meeting energy needs.
And the SMR technology could be set for Cumbria.
Following efforts of local and national leaders, Rolls Royce has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, pledging support for efforts to bring an SMR to Fellside, land south of Sellafield.
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Copeland Council’s portfolio holder for nuclear and commercial services, David Moore, told councillors in July: “There’s now a real commitment within the NDA and Sellafield that they want to bring the SMR in.
“I think that has really lifted the profile we’ve got because now we’ve got, not only a development but we’ve got a customer.”
- Rolls Royce SMR factory
Land at Kingmoor Park in Carlisle has been shortlisted for a Rolls Royce factory.
If Carlisle’s bid is successful, the factory would produce the modules for Small Modular Reactors - regardless of whether the above ambitions to bring one to Copeland are successful.
It could mean a boost for the nuclear supply chain and the Cumbrian businesses that contribute to it, like Forth Engineering in Maryport.
Cumbria would become an exporter of the parts to build the SMRs, which could benefit the county’s bid to develop one near Sellafield - subject to Government investment.
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Member of Parliament for Carlisle, John Stevenson believes that the SMR factory would be a boon for the area and could go hand-in-hand with Copeland’s bid to house one of the reactors.
Mr Stevenson said: “I think Cumbria is, to some extent, a nuclear county, we’re already dealing with the decommissioning of nuclear waste. I think we should also be looking to the future of nuclear.
“Attracting Rolls Royce to Carlisle would be hugely significant but also making sure we’re building nuclear plants in West Cumbria.”
Carlisle’s MP added that new nuclear development is important to retain the sector’s jobs and businesses after operations ramp down at Sellafield.
“I think Cumbria is an attractive destination, we have the skills set, we’re supportive of that sector and I think it’d be a great opportunity for the county. Nuclear shouldn’t just be about energy, it’s also about economic development there’s businesses across the county to feed into the supply chain.”
- Fusion
Another NDA-owned site neighbouring Sellafield could be lined-up for industrial development.
Moorside, just a stone’s throw from Fellside, is in the running for a prototype nuclear fusion reactor.
The UK Atomic Energy Authority is running a competition to find a UK home for the STEP Tokamak nuclear fusion reactor and Moorside has reached the shortlist of five potential sites.
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Fusion is an emerging method, meaning West Cumbria could play an important part in developing it as a viable and reliable form of energy.
While its commercial uses are yet to be shown, fusion power made an important breakthrough recently when scientists in South Korea sustained the nuclear reaction for 30 seconds beyond 100 million degrees Celsius, seven times hotter than the sun.
Stephen Hawking famously said that if it can be harnessed, fusion power ‘would provide an inexhaustible supply of energy, without pollution or global warming.’
- Employment boost
Clean-up operations at the Sellafield nuclear decommissioning site are ramping down, which will mean an eventual reduction in jobs at the site.
In response, Copeland Council has launched the Industrial Solutions Hub, a project designed to retain and grow the unique nuclear and clean energy skillset on offer in Cumbria.
The project will centre around an enterprise park set to be developed at Leconfield Industrial Estate.
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Businesses operating at the enterprise park could train the next generation of nuclear professionals working at the exciting developments planned for Cumbria.
This week’s publication of the Nuclear Industry Association’s annual Jobs Map shows that employment in the sector has grown to its highest levels in five years.
According to the map, the civil nuclear sector currently employs 64,509 people across the UK, 14,873 in Copeland; between 100-249 in Carlisle, between 500 and 999 in the Workington constituency.
Copeland MP and minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Trudy Harrison said: “There is real momentum in the nuclear industry at present. The benefits of new nuclear projects, including SMRs are frequently being raised in Parliament by colleagues right across the country, and it was excellent to hear the Prime Minister use her first Prime Minister’s Questions to repeatedly reaffirm the commitment to building new nuclear power stations in order to increase our own energy supply long term.
“The NIA’s Jobs Map demonstrates this growth and momentum. But we can – and must – go further. The Government is pledging £1.7 billion of direct funding for developing large-scale nuclear projects in this Parliament.
“Nuclear power supports our community more than any other; we have let our most powerful, most efficient and reliable electricity generation down badly over recent decades.
“I will continue to fight every day to secure its future to achieve affordable, reliable clean power, supporting science and industry, apprenticeships and high quality jobs, vibrant communities and a brilliant export opportunity.”
Mrs Harrison recently produced a new document, Copeland’s Nuclear Journey, making the case to locate new SMRs in Copeland and which she intends to present to the new Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity.
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