Notice

Competition brief: integrated innovation for nuclear decommissioning

Updated 19 April 2017

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This competition is no longer open. Search current funding opportunities.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sbri-funding-competition-integrated-innovation-for-nuclear-decommissioning/competition-brief-integrated-innovation-for-nuclear-decommissioning

1. Dates and deadlines

Competition opens Monday 30 January 2017
Briefing event for applicants Tuesday 14 February 2017
Briefing online webinar Tuesday 14 February 2017
Brokerage event, Aberdeen Tuesday 28 February 2017
Brokerage event, Birmingham Thursday 2 March 2017
Brokerage event, Penrith Tuesday 7 March 2017
Brokerage event, Bristol Thursday 9 March 2017
Registration deadline Midday on Wednesday 19 April 2017
Application deadline Midday on Wednesday 26 April 2017

2. The competition scope

The aim of this competition is to stimulate innovation in and reduce the cost of nuclear decommissioning. Projects should produce a step change in the decommissioning or dismantling process and address the following objectives:

  • minimise human intervention
  • increase productivity
  • optimise waste treatment, packing and routing

We are looking to fund projects that integrate technologies into a single platform, or a small number of platforms. These should be able to demonstrate multiple tasks in the decommissioning process with minimum human intervention. Projects should achieve this in a non-active environment by the end of September 2019.

The proposed platform must be able to demonstrate, at different scales, as many of the following tasks as possible:

  • characterisation
  • visualisation and planning
  • decontamination
  • size reduction (planning and delivery)
  • contamination management
  • holding
  • moving
  • waste packing

We are keen to see technology transfer from other sectors. In particular, we wish to exploit advances in robotics in combination with other innovative technologies. Examples of technologies that may work together include, but are not limited to:

  • robotics and autonomous systems
  • sensors and detectors
  • imaging
  • artificial intelligence
  • virtual reality
  • digital and ICT
  • big data
  • modelling and simulation

We expect projects to produce a representative demonstration of integrated capabilities. The layout and hardware used in the demonstration should be representative of a nuclear decommissioning scenario. The capabilities demonstrated should be able to manage some or all of the following variables and constraints:

  • building/room (nuclear cell) dimensions
  • vessel, tank, pipe and steelwork dimensions and geometries
  • level of hazards (radiation, contamination and chemicals)
  • space limitations (inside and outside cell)
  • infrastructure (for example, ventilation, power, water)

Full details of these variables can be found in the specification document, available when the competition opens.

The aim is to be able to transfer the technology to an active site at Sellafield within 1 year of successful phase 2 project completion.

We are also particularly interested in demonstrators that could be transferable to other sectors operating in hazardous environments.

3. Projects that we won’t fund

In this competition, we are not funding:

  • projects that aren’t in the scope detailed above
  • projects that will not achieve an inactive demonstration by the end of September 2019

We will also not fund the construction of a bespoke building for the demonstration.

4. Find out if you are eligible to apply

To lead a project, you must:

  • be an organisation of any size
  • work alone or in collaboration with others (business, research base and third sector)

Contracts will only be awarded to the lead organisation in any application.

Projects that transfer technology from other sectors are eligible.

Pre-start-ups are eligible, but you will need to register as a business if you are awarded a contract.

All applicants will need to show that their proposed idea has a credible and practical route to market.

5. Funding and project details

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield Ltd and Innovate UK have allocated up to £3 million to fund innovation projects in this competition.

This is divided across 2 phases:

  • up to £400,000 for phase 1
  • up to £2.6 million for phase 2

Phase 1

In phase 1, you will produce a detailed technology plan and business case. Projects can range in size up to a total cost of £50,000. Projects can last up to 3 months. You must complete and report on phase 1 projects by November 2017.

In the phase 1 proposal, you should provide a plan and details of your goals for phase 2. You should also include plans for full commercialisation.

Phase 2

Phase 2 is only open to applicants that have successfully completed phase 1. We will take the most promising projects from phase 1 into phase 2, subject to independent assessment and budget limitations.

In phase 2, you will develop and evaluate integrated systems based on your phase 1 proposal. These will demonstrate a number of tasks. Projects can range in size up to a total cost of £1.5 million, but we will consider funding larger projects on a case by case basis. You must complete phase 2 projects by September 2019.

Note

We will decide whether to move forward with phase 2 when we know the outcomes of phase 1. At the end of phase 1, we may ask the most promising projects to consider working together, if this is likely to produce the best output for the demonstration and is beneficial to all parties.

6. How to apply

To apply:

We will not accept late submissions. Your application is confidential.

External, independent experts assess the quality of your application. We will then select the best proposals from those that meet the aims of this competition.

Read the general guidance for applicants. It will help your chances of submitting a quality application. Do note, however, that the funding rules for general competitions do not apply to this competition. You can read relevant funding information in the specific competition guidance.

7. Background and further information

Over the next 5 years, the Sellafield Ltd business will undergo a major shift in focus. As reprocessing ceases, decommissioning, waste management and site remediation assume increased priority. The estimated cost of decommissioning the site is about £85 billion. There are many opportunities to do things faster, more safely and at a reduced cost.

There are about 170 nuclear facilities at Sellafield. They each have their own challenges but a significant proportion is associated with reprocessing operations, both historic and recent. This means they consist of rooms (cells) containing a complex network of vessels, pipework and structural steel.

The hazardous, congested environment and the poor access mean that decommissioning and dismantling the radioactive cells is a complex task. Remote solutions have, in the past, been bespoke and very costly, yet unreliable. Manual decommissioning, however, is hazardous for the operator and extremely time-consuming.

The waste generated as a result of nuclear decommissioning can be highly variable and span a wide range of classifications. The cost associated with treating, handling, packaging and disposing or storing of nuclear waste increases dramatically with classification. This means that the financial and environmental benefits of optimising waste treatment and routing are significant.

7.1 About SBRI competitions

SBRI provides innovative solutions to challenges faced by the public sector. This can lead to better public services and improved efficiency and effectiveness. SBRI supports economic growth and enables the development of innovative products and services. It does this through the public procurement of research and development (R&D). SBRI generates new business opportunities for companies and provides a route to market for their ideas. It also bridges the seed funding gap experienced by many early-stage companies.

Applications must have at least 50% of the contract value attributed directly and exclusively for R&D services. R&D can cover solution exploration and design. It can also include prototyping and field-testing the product or service. R&D does not include:

  • commercial development activities such as quantity production
  • supply to establish commercial viability or to recover R&D costs

7.2 Further help and information

Instructions on how to enter this competition can be found in the Guidance for Applicants document, available when the competition opens. When you register for the competition, you will also have details of the technical specification for the competition.

If you want help to find a project partner, contact the Knowledge Transfer Network.

If you need more information, contact the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 or email us at support@innovateuk.gov.uk.

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