TRANSCEND: Transformative Science and Engineering for Nuclear Decommissioning

英国政府致力于核能在提供安全、低碳和负担得起的能源未来方面发挥重要作用，并在政策文件中描述了他们对新建发电站和延长现有舰队寿命的愿望。这项政策的成功实施认识到，研发、技能开发和国际合作是关键的推动因素。一个中心组成部分是需要证明我们有能力安全管理和处置民用核废料。核退役管理局负责落实有关遗留废物的政策目标，放射性废物管理局负责提供地质处置设施和废物管理解决方案。EPSRC的战略是保持对核裂变研究的投资，认识到核电在未来低碳能源结构中具有重要作用，战略重点是支持核废料退役、固定和管理的研究。所有这些战略的核心组成部分是“政府、工业界和学术界对核研发的联合方法……对英国经济有利”，对英国工业有利，使其成为“废物管理和退役方面的全球领导者”（见支持案例）。成功交付退役、固定和管理核废料的解决方案也会影响公众对任何新建设计划的接受程度。关于任何地质处置设施，都需要证明有能力安全管理和处置遗留作业产生的废物，对公众态度的研究表明，接受这种设施直接关系到是否有安全清理和处置任何废物的可行路线。这些战略依赖于未来10-20年的进一步研究和开发。该联盟的工作是对这一需求的回应的一部分，为这一关键领域的国际领先研究小组提供支持。这项工作将促进核裂变研究的健康发展，并通过具体学科的发展促进核以外领域的发展。它通过开发下一代技术和确保有效和负担得起的废物处理解决方案，解决与生产性和弹性国家成果相关的关键社会挑战。它还将有助于建立公众对废物管理解决方案的信心，并有助于接受核能，以及通过保持我们在废物管理研究方面的世界领先地位，并协助工业保持其世界领先地位，为英国的经济成功做出贡献。该联盟由来自11所研究密集型大学的主要行业合作伙伴和领先的学术研究人员组成，他们在核研究和开发方面具有丰富的专业知识。拟进行的研究是多学科的，涵盖基础和应用主题，包括40个研究项目，分为4个技术主题。该联盟由来自不同背景的知名研究人员组成，他们都是各自领域的领导者，在核领域具有创新和解决问题的记录。它还包括许多具有相关核相关专业知识的早期职业研究人员，为他们提供大型财团项目的宝贵经验，并在他们成熟为该领域的领导者时进一步发展他们的形象和影响力。该联盟建立并巩固了之前epsrc资助的项目DISTINCTIVE（核废料清单的退役、固定和储存解决方案，EP/L014041/1）的工作，将来自更多大学的研究人员聚集在一起，增加了该小组的多学科性质，以扩展和发展英国境内的学术技能基础。

UK government is committed to nuclear energy having an important role in delivering a secure, low-carbon and affordable energy future, with their aspirations for new build power stations and life extension of the existing fleet described in policy documents. Successful delivery of this policy recognises the need for research and development, skills development and international collaboration as key enablers. A central component is the need to demonstrate our ability to safely manage and dispose of civil nuclear waste. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is responsible for the delivery of policy aims with respect to legacy waste, with Radioactive Waste Management charged with the delivery of a geological disposal facility and waste management solutions. EPSRC strategy is to maintain investment in nuclear fission research, recognising nuclear power as having an important role in the future low-carbon energy mix, with a strategic focus being research underpinning the decommissioning, immobilisation and management of nuclear waste. Central components of all these strategies are "a joined-up approach to nuclear R&D across government, industry and academia which...benefit(s) the UK economy" and, of benefit to UK industry, that establishes it "as a global leader in waste management and decommissioning" (see Case for Support).The successful delivery of decommissioning, immobilisation and management of nuclear waste solutions also impacts on public acceptance of any new build programme. In relation to any geological disposal facility, there is a need to demonstrate an ability to safely manage and dispose of waste from legacy operations, with studies of public attitudes showing that acceptance of such a facility is directly linked to having viable routes for the safe clean-up and disposal of any waste.These strategies rely on further research and development being delivered over the next 10-20 years. The work of the consortium is part of the response to this need, providing support to an internationally leading group of researchers in this key area. The work will contribute to the health of nuclear fission research, and through developments within specific disciplines, to areas beyond nuclear. It addresses key societal challenges in relation to productive and resilient nation outcomes through the development of next generation technologies and by ensuring effective and affordable solutions for waste treatment. It will also contribute to the building of public confidence in waste management solutions, and assist the acceptance of nuclear power, as well as contributing to UK economic success by maintaining our position as a world leader in waste management research, and in assisting industry to maintain its world leading position.The consortium comprises key industry partners and leading academic researchers from 11 research intensive universities with significant expertise in nuclear research and development. The research proposed is multi-disciplinary and covers fundamental and applied topics, including 40 research projects clustered into 4 technical themes. The consortium is made up of established researchers from a diverse range of backgrounds, who are all leaders in their field, with a track-record of innovation and problem solving in the nuclear area. It also comprises many early career researchers who, as well as having relevant nuclear-related expertise, are included to provide them with invaluable experience of a large consortium project, and to further develop their profile and influence, as they mature into leaders in the field. The consortium builds upon and consolidates the work of the previous EPSRC-funded project DISTINCTIVE (Decommissioning, Immobilisation and Storage Solutions for Nuclear Waste Inventories, EP/L014041/1), bringing together researchers from a larger group of universities and increasing the multi-disciplinary nature of the group to extend and develop the academic skills base within the UK.