The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Last Updated: 30 July 2010

Research and Development (R&D) is a supplemental function as specified in the Energy Act 2004. As such NDA is required to promote and, where necessary, carry out research in relation to its prime function of decommissioning and clean-up.

Our research and development

There are close links between R&D and many organisations including the nuclear regulators: Nuclear Directorate (ND) of Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Environment Agency (EA) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Research Councils and Government.

Downloadable version of this page:    Research & Development Topic Strategy Summary (38.3Kb)

Objective

To ensure sufficient and appropriate R&D is being carried out to technically underpin and thus ensure successful delivery of NDA's decommissioning and clean up mission whilst maintaining the highest standards in safety, security and environmental management.  Also to share national and international good practice to enable innovation and skills development. 

Scope and Boundaries

The R&D Topic Strategy defines the approach that NDA will take in ensuring that sufficient and appropriate R&D is being carried out to ensure delivery of NDA's mission. The scope of this topic spans technical underpinning work carried out via the Site Licence Companies (SLCs) and R&D work that may be carried out directly by NDA. For example it ranges from technical development and optioneering studies to underpin delivery of key decommissioning projects to focussed research to develop and preserve key technical and engineering skills.

The scope includes working closely with the organisations listed above and supply chain companies to ensure national and international good practice is promulgated to support innovation.

Interfaces

As a critical enabler the strategy interfaces with the majority of other Topic Strategies, but with particular relevance to the following:         

• Decommissioning and Clean-up because it determines our approach to delivering our mission
• Skills and Capability in terms of their availability across the nuclear sector
• International Relations because of the need to access international experience
• Supply Chain development because of the need to achieve innovation and better value for money
• Higher Activity Wastes because of the links to the Geological Disposal Facility.
• Land Quality Management because of the impact on site end states. 
• Lower Activity Wastes because of the potential for waste re-categorisation
• Information and Knowledge Management because of the need to share good practice
• Nuclear material and Spent fuel strategies because of the need to underpin credible options and inform policy development

Credible Options

The following list of credible options, relates to responsibility for carrying out the R&D:

1.  SLCs carry out R&D in conjunction with the supply chain

2.  SLCs carry out R&D is conjunction with the supply chain, with an NDA led strategic R&D programme being carried out by a third party.  NDA provide overall leadership in order to deliver the NDA's mission

3.  SLCs carry out R&D in conjunction with the supply chain, with an NDA led strategic R&D programme being carried out by the supply chain. NDA provide overall leadership in order to deliver the NDA's mission

In all cases safety, security and environmental regulation of the SLC programmes is carried out by the appropriate regulator. This may involve the regulator requesting that SLCs carry out or fund R&D that they believe is essential.

Current Position

NDA is currently pursuing Option 3 by sponsoring R&D indirectly via the SLCs supported by a strategic portfolio of R&D sponsored by NDA directly (Option 1).

The current Topic Strategy is defined by a set of principles which are summarised below:

• Promote and actively support a balanced portfolio of short, medium and long term R&D programmes that support NDA's mission in decommissioning and clean up and associated skills programmes.
• Ensure the appropriate application of technical governance in delivery of R&D programmes
• Ensure robust technical underpinning of Lifetime Plans and clear identification of associated R&D work to mitigate risk and reduce cost and timescales across NDA's mission
• Understand the impact of directly and indirectly funded R&D on NDA's mission through development and implementation of metrics
• Actively support and encourage innovation through the supply chain including challenging the traditional approach to R&D and promoting dissemination of knowledge and experience
• Ensure strategic alignment and sufficient peer review in developing national programmes of R&D work. Where appropriate seek to organise R&D on a national basis so that the necessary capabilities are available to support all NDA sites
• Establish mechanisms to support access to national and international experience and good practice
• Identify and support the preservation of key scientific and technical skills as part of the wider skills programme including investment in strategic facilities
• Encourage and support world class R&D in strategic nuclear centres of excellence
• Engage with supply chain to ensure key scientific and technical skills are available to meet medium to long term needs

The Topic Strategy is under development with the principles being progressively refined and implemented. Good progress has already been made in some areas but many require further development before they can be embedded. The work to determine the focus of R&D and its governance arrangements continue to progress.

The current strategy is at Stage A (Credible options) in the SMS.

Position at Strategy II (June 2010)

The current strategy will continue to be implemented and monitored for effectiveness.