Annex C
NEW BUILD SKILLS PROFILE
The specific skill requirements and skill mix
during the evolution of new build in the UK will change according
to the particular stage in project development. The typical major
phases for a nuclear project can be described as:
1. Pre-investment development work to establish
cost, timescales, regulatory issues, research and Development
needs and an overall business case for the investment.
2. Design, construction and commissioning including
obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals and permits.
3. Operation including asset maintenance, performance
upgrades and periodic safety case reviews.
Looking at each of these phases in turn and
specifically at the nuclear engineering skills in the context
of UK new build approach of buying proven designs in the International
market shows how skill requirements change.
1. New build is currently in the pre investment
phase. Activities which are underway include Generic Design assessment
by regulators, site assessment by Utilities supported by reactor
Vendors. The nuclear skills needed here are relatively small numbers
of experts to support Regulatory assessments in areas such as
Reactor core analysis and fuel management, nuclear safety expertise
to review safety cases information provided by Vendors and waste
management expertise to assess proposed waste arisings and management
routes.
The next stage in this phase will be site specific
proposals made by Utilities this will require considerably greater
effort than currently needed however much of the nuclear engineering
will be carried out by the vendors primarily using their own resources.
Nuclear engineering expertise will again be needed to support
Regulatory assessments of proposals using similar skills as described
above but likely to need more detailed consideration of site specific
issues (eg seismic conditions, environmental discharges). This
phase is likely to last ~3 to 5 years.
2. Following approval to proceed with the investment
major detailed design, equipment procurement, civil construction,
equipment installation and commissioning work occurs. Regulatory
oversight continues and will need nuclear engineering skills to
accomplish this. In addition substantial nuclear design work and
specialist nuclear equipment procurement will be carried out by
Vendors however most of this work will be done in the Vendors
design offices. The extent of local design and procurement work
is not clear at this stage and this could be an opportunity for
UK nuclear engineering skills to play a significant role in enabling
UK suppliers to work on new build. The skills needed here are
understanding Nuclear design and fabrication standards and Nuclear
safety engineering. This phase last for ~5 years.
3. The operation of Nuclear plant requires a
continuous level of engagement by Nuclear engineering skills to
ensure the plant remains within its safety envelope and to support
troubleshooting and plant performance enhancements. This phase
lasts for ~60 years.
4. Once operations have ceased the decommissioning
of the reactor can be started. The early phases of work such as
removal of fuel and wastes does require Nuclear engineering skills
however the skill mix changes once the key nuclear hazards are
removed and skills such as environmental and conventional safety
skills.
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