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，他们在政策文件中描述了新建发电站和延长现有船队寿命的愿望。这项政策的成功实施认识到，研究和开发、技能发展和国际合作是关键的推动因素。一个核心组成部分是需要展示我们安全管理和处置民用核废料的能力。核退役管理局负责实现遗留废物方面的政策目标，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组合中的重要作用，战略重点是支持核废物退役，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采取联合方法，英国经济受益”，并使英国工业受益，使其成为“废物管理和退役的全球领导者”（见支持案例）。核废物退役、固定和管理解决方案的成功交付也会影响公众对任何新建项目的接受程度。关于任何地质处置设施，需要证明有能力安全地管理和处置遗留作业产生的废物，对公众态度的研究表明，接受这种设施与拥有安全清理和处置任何废物的可行路线直接相关，这些战略依赖于今后10-20年进行的进一步研究和开发。该联合会的工作是对这一需要的回应的一部分，为这一关键领域的国际领先研究人员小组提供支持。这项工作将有助于核裂变研究的健康，并通过特定学科的发展，超越核领域。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，应对与生产性和复原力国家成果有关的主要社会挑战。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，以及通过保持我们作为废物管理研究世界领导者的地位，为英国的经济成功做出贡献。及协助工业界维持其世界领先地位。该联盟由主要的工业伙伴及来自十一所研究密集大学的顶尖学术研究人员组成，核研究与发展的专业知识。拟议的研究是多学科的，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，在核领域拥有创新和解决问题的记录。它还包括许多早期职业研究人员，他们除了拥有相关的核相关专业知识外，还为他们提供大型财团项目的宝贵经验，并进一步发展他们的形象和影响力，因为他们成熟为该领域的领导者。该联盟建立在并巩固了以前EPSRC资助的项目DISTINCTIVE（核废物清单的退役，固定和储存解决方案，EP/L014041/1）的工作，汇集了来自更大的大学群体的研究人员，并增加了该群体的多学科性质，以扩展和发展英国的学术技能基础。

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.