SBRI: nuclear advanced modular reactors, feasibility and development

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is to invest up to £44m to establish an advanced modular reactor (AMR) feasibility and development programme.

For this competition AMRs are defined as a broad group of advanced nuclear reactors. AMRs differ from conventional reactors, which use pressurised or boiling water for primary cooling. They aim to maximise the amount of off-site factory fabrication and can target:

• generating low cost electricity
• increased flexibility in delivering electricity to the grid
• increased functionality, such as the provision of heat output for domestic or industrial purposes, or facilitating the production of hydrogen
• alternative applications that may generate additional revenue or economic growth

This competition has 2 phases:

Phase 1: funding (up to £4m) to undertake a series of feasibility studies for AMR designs. Contracts are worth up to £300k  and will last up to 8 months

Phase 2: subject to government approval, a share of up to £40m could be available for selected projects from phase 1 to undertake development activities

You must apply into phase 1 to be considered for phase 2 funding.

Phase 1 total project costs can be up to £300k.

In phase 1 you will develop a feasibility study for your selected design of advanced modular reactor, including:

• a design specific evidence base
• a business proposition and delivery model
• cost data and cost reduction strategy
• a research and development plan for how your proposed design will be commercially deployed
• a detailed proposal for high priority applied research that you will do during phase 2, if you are successful in phase 1

In addition, you will need to submit a report (as a standalone annexe to the main feasibility report) summarising the technology’s main safety, security and environmental features. This report will be reviewed by the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency (the regulators), who will provide feedback.

To be successful you must also:

• make sure the regulators have a clear understanding of your proposed design.
• meet regularly with the government’s appointed representatives to provide updates on progress and to provide information on approach and methodologies.

Specific competition themes

This competition is looking for projects that focus on at least one of the primary application areas, which are:

• low cost electricity generation
• increased flexibility in providing electricity for example with load following
• increased functionality, such as the provision of heat output for domestic or industrial purposes or facilitating the production of hydrogen
• alternative applications that may generate additional revenue or support economic growth, such as radioisotope production

Eligibility

To apply, lead organisations should have experience in nuclear reactor technologies, however all applicants are encouraged to work with innovative organisations from inside and outside the nuclear sector. Technology transfer is particularly encouraged.

Individual phase 1 proposals can request up to £300k to fund feasibility study projects.

Projects will receive 100% funding from BEIS.

In phase 1, the competition is particularly looking for feasibility projects for technologies that:

• are innovative and collaborative
• encourage technology transfer from other sectors
• have elements of international collaboration

The competition is specifically looking for projects that focus on one or more of the primary application areas.