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14 THE BEACON MAGAZINE | INTERVIEW Tom’s the man to bring industry’s image up to date What does an ex-MP know about nuclear power? A lot, in the case of Tom Greatrex, who was a shadow energy minister in the last parliament life extension of the UK’s existing reactor fleet or the latest twist in the long-running saga of Hinkley Point C. “It’s important that the membership of the NIA feel that they get value from the way the organisation communicates on their behalf,” he says. Tom Greatrex Tom Greatrex admits that when he became Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association in February, there were surprises in store. “I wasn’t aware that the UK nuclear industry was involved in such a wide range of activity,” he says. This learning curve has left Tom even more convinced that the nuclear sector can play a big part in rebalancing the UK economy. But he warns that the industry needs to work on its public profile to make sure that it reflects current reality. “Perceptions are coloured by an outdated understanding of what nuclear power is about,” he says. “There is a lack of awareness about the breadth and depth of the knowledge base in the UK nuclear industry and we all need to think about how we can get the message across.” Tom cites the fact that expertise and capability developed in the UK is playing an important role in the clean-up of Fukushima, where Amec Foster Wheeler is helping Japan’s nuclear decommissioning body to draw up a waste management strategy. He adds: “This is an industry with great export potential and, if we do it right, we can create a highly specialised decommissioning supply chain that will create prosperity for generations to come.” Tom’s professional background differs markedly from that of Keith Parker, the former senior Department of Energy civil servant who has run the NIA since 2003. However, he is quick to pay tribute to his predecessor: “Keith has done a tremendous job, especially when you consider where nuclear policy was 13 years ago and where it is now. Keith has played a crucial role in driving that dialogue along.” With copious experience of the media, including writing columns for Utility Week, Tom has grasped the opportunity to complement the NIA’s behind-the-scenes lobbying by raising his head above the parapet to represent its 260 member companies more visibly in the policy debate. He is ready and willing to be interviewed on television and radio when big energy stories break, whether about “There is almost no aspect of policy that doesn’t impact on energy – from whether elderly people can afford to heat their homes to geopolitical issues in the Middle East. That’s why it’s so important that energy policy is right.” Drawing on his experience, Tom expects that Labour’s broad consensus in favour of nuclear as a key part of the energy mix will survive the current turmoil in the party. “When you look back to when the last Labour government began the process towards the new build programme, the Conservatives said they regarded nuclear as a last resort and the Liberal Democrats were opposed to the idea. But when they were in government, they both moved their positions. “That’s because anyone who looks at the facts will see that nuclear has to be included in any serious proposal for meeting our future energy needs. MPs in all the main parties are aware of that and it’s important that we retain that broad base of support. “This is a long-term business and it is almost certain that there will be changes in political leadership during the lifetime of these new stations.”
THE BEACON MAGAZINE | FEATURE 15 Nuclear first on Wylfa’s last day Amec Foster Wheeler experts have found a way to achieve huge savings as reactors approach planned closure and fuel transport, as the interfaces with them were crucial.” Wylfa 1 nuclear power plant When the Wylfa 1 reactor was shut down for the last time on the afternoon of December 30, 2015, it brought an end to the 49-year history of the UK’s Magnox stations. But a nuclear first was achieved that day as well as the reactor had almost used up all of its available fuel. Duncan Hall, Nuclear Science and Structural Integrity Operations Manager at Amec Foster Wheeler’s Clean Energy business, said: “What Magnox did, with our support, at Wylfa has not been done anywhere else in the world as far as we’re aware. Usually, reactors tend to be shut down with lots of very productive fuel still inside. That would probably include some fuel that was placed inside the reactor only a few months before. This is a waste because fuel doesn’t get to its most reactive state until it’s been in use for about a year.” Needless to say, Wylfa’s precise timing did not happen by accident. Back in 2002, Magnox commenced initial studies into fuel cycle optimisation at the four remaining stations, which also included Sizewell, Dungeness and Oldbury. Magnox staff from engineering, reactor physics, operations, fuel route and commercial departments were involved in determining the strategic options, along with experts in fuel performance, fuel cycle design, reactor fault studies, safety case, and independent nuclear safety assessment. Because the capacity for fuel reprocessing would be a major constraint, representatives from Sellafield were also involved. The programme, which had not been attempted anywhere before, was divided up into four parallel work-streams of reactor physics, modellers, fault analysts and safety case authors, plus site implementation teams, all operating to tight timescales. Amec Foster Wheeler’s reactor and fuel performance, reactor physics and fuel cycle management teams worked closely with Magnox throughout. Duncan explained: “Most people think this is something just for physicists and fuel cycle people to deal with. In fact the key to success was to involve fuel reprocessing The lessons from Sizewell and Dungeness were applied by Magnox to Oldbury and Wylfa, where more fuel efficient fuel cycles and associated safety cases were implemented. And when the opportunity arose to generate electricity for longer at Oldbury and Wylfa, these greater efficiencies really came into their own. At Wylfa, thanks to the transfer of fuel from the already shut down reactor 2, the station continued generating for another five years without needing to order any new fuel. “Magnox were able to dispense with the equivalent of four years’ fuel purchases,” said Duncan. “And because the used fuel was more irradiated because it had been in the reactor for longer, it did not cost as much to reprocess.” As an indication of just how massive the savings could be, it’s worth noting that a Magnox reactor has space for more than 48,000 fuel elements. Meanwhile, the additional generation at Oldbury and Wylfa reaped a windfall of more than £1bn for the British taxpayer via the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Magnox’s owners. News of the remarkable results achieved at Wylfa have spread around the industry in the UK and abroad, so Duncan and his team are now talking to other operators about how they can achieve the same efficiencies. To find out more: duncan.hall@amecfw.com
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