National Nuclear Laboratory
Encyclopedia
The National Nuclear Laboratory (informally NNL, formerly Nexia Solutions) is a UK government-owned, commercially operated nuclear services technology provider covering the whole of the nuclear fuel cycle. It is fully customer-funded and operates at six locations in the United Kingdom
. Its customers have included the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
, Sellafield Ltd, Westinghouse
, the Health and Safety Executive
, the Ministry of Defence
, the UK Atomic Energy Authority
, VT Nuclear
and British Energy
. It also has extensive links with academia, including collaborative agreements on waste immobilisation and disposal with the University of Sheffield
and on nuclear materials research with the University of Manchester
.
. In 2003, this Research and Technology business was re-launched as Nuclear Sciences and Technology Services (NSTS) in order to ready the business for transformation into a fully commercial entity. In 2005, following the restructuring of the wider nuclear industry, Nexia Solutions was formed out of NSTS, as a wholly owned subsidiary of BNFL
.
In July 2006, the UK Government stated its intention to preserve and develop key R&D capabilities potentially as part of a National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). In October 2006, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
, Alistair Darling
announced the establishment of the NNL, to be based on Nexia Solutions and the British Technology Centre at Sellafield
. The NNL was formally announced by John Hutton
, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in an announcement at the Sellafield Visitors Centre on 23 July 2008 .
On 23 March 2009 it was announced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change
(DECC) that a consortium made up of Serco
, Battelle
and the University of Manchester
had been selected as the new management contractors for the NNL . The contract was for an initial three-year period with options to be extended by up to two years . DECC had been engaged in competitive dialogue with the winning consortium as well as QQEST, a joint venture between QinetiQ
and EnergySolutions, since October 2008 .
The management contract commenced on 1 April 2009, when ownership of the NNL transferred from BNFL directly to DECC with shareholder responsibilities delegated to the Shareholder Executive
. From day one of the new contract, the focus was on positioning the NNL as the employer of choice for nuclear scientists and engineers, and working in partnership with customers to deliver valuable solutions to the challenges faced by the national and international nuclear market . Mike Lawrence of Battelle
was appointed to lead the new NNL management team as Managing Director. He had more than 40 years of experience in the nuclear profession, including management of the United States Hanford Reservation and its massive site cleanup program, and his former role as the U.S. representative on nuclear matters to the International Atomic Energy Agency
.
is the headquarters of the National Nuclear Laboratory and is the flagship nuclear Research and Development
facility in the UK. It supports new reactor build, operation of reactors, operations of fuel processing plants and decommissioning and clean-up. Managed by the NNL, on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
(NDA), the Central Laboratory is available to run a wide range of radioactive and non-radioactive experimental programmes. In addition, it offers a wide range of analytical services, building on its excellent location on the Sellafield
site and considerable expertise of its resident technologists. Customers range from Government and the NDA to site licence companies, utilities, nuclear specialists and universities. The facility has been designed with flexibility and collaboration firmly at its heart. Smaller experiments can be easily set, taking advantage of the modular nature of the laboratories. Larger experiments and rigs can be assembled off site, installed and pre-tested in non-radioactive areas prior to active testing.
The Preston Laboratory on the Springfields site is designed to service the needs of businesses in low-activity uranium research and development as well as providing technical and business serviecs from an office base. It was opened in July 1997. The building has three main areas including Uranium-active facilities, non-active research and development facilities as well as office accommodation.
The Windscale Laboratory is an active handling and inspection facility based on Windscale Nuclear Licensed Site at Sellafield
. The facility comprises a number of heavily shielded cells with remote operations enabling the handling, transfer, preparation and inspection of highly active materials.
The Workington Laboratory represents the NNL's non-active facility for undertaking various rig-work and pilot scale studies.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Its customers have included the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom formed by the Energy Act 2004. It came into existence in late 2004, and took on its main functions on 1 April 2005...
, Sellafield Ltd, Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric Company
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC is a nuclear power company, offering a wide range of nuclear products and services to utilities throughout the world, including nuclear fuel, service and maintenance, instrumentation and control and advanced nuclear plant designs...
, the Health and Safety Executive
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
, the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, the UK Atomic Energy Authority
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of nuclear fusion power. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and was formerly chaired by Lady Barbara Judge CBE...
, VT Nuclear
VT Group
VT Group plc was a British defence and services company, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. The Company had diversified from shipbuilding into various engineering and support services, becoming involved in many areas of provision through five main operating groups: VT Communications, VT...
and British Energy
British Energy
British Energy was the UK's largest electricity generation company by volume, before being taken over by Électricité de France in 2009. British Energy operated eight former UK state-owned nuclear power stations and one coal fired power station....
. It also has extensive links with academia, including collaborative agreements on waste immobilisation and disposal with the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
and on nuclear materials research with the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
.
History
The organization began to come together in 1996 when a number of separate research and development facilities began to coalesce into a single unit within British Nuclear FuelsBNFL
British Nuclear Fuels Limited was a nuclear energy and fuels company owned by the UK Government. It was a former manufacturer and transporter of nuclear fuel , ran reactors, generated and sold electricity, reprocessed and managed spent fuel , and decommissioned nuclear plants and other similar...
. In 2003, this Research and Technology business was re-launched as Nuclear Sciences and Technology Services (NSTS) in order to ready the business for transformation into a fully commercial entity. In 2005, following the restructuring of the wider nuclear industry, Nexia Solutions was formed out of NSTS, as a wholly owned subsidiary of BNFL
BNFL
British Nuclear Fuels Limited was a nuclear energy and fuels company owned by the UK Government. It was a former manufacturer and transporter of nuclear fuel , ran reactors, generated and sold electricity, reprocessed and managed spent fuel , and decommissioned nuclear plants and other similar...
.
In July 2006, the UK Government stated its intention to preserve and develop key R&D capabilities potentially as part of a National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). In October 2006, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills is a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. Its secondary title is the President of the Board of Trade...
, Alistair Darling
Alistair Darling
Alistair Maclean Darling is a Scottish Labour Party politician who has been a Member of Parliament since 1987, currently for Edinburgh South West. He served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2007 to 2010...
announced the establishment of the NNL, to be based on Nexia Solutions and the British Technology Centre at Sellafield
Sellafield
Sellafield is a nuclear reprocessing site, close to the village of Seascale on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria, England. The site is served by Sellafield railway station. Sellafield is an off-shoot from the original nuclear reactor site at Windscale which is currently undergoing...
. The NNL was formally announced by John Hutton
John Hutton (Labour MP)
John Matthew Patrick Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness in Cumbria from 1992 to 2010, and has served in a number of Cabinet offices, including Defence Secretary and Business Secretary...
, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in an announcement at the Sellafield Visitors Centre on 23 July 2008 .
On 23 March 2009 it was announced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change
Department of Energy and Climate Change
The Department of Energy and Climate Change is a British government department created on 3 October 2008 by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to take over some of the functions of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs...
(DECC) that a consortium made up of Serco
Serco Group
Serco Group plc is a government services company based in Hook, North Hampshire in the United Kingdom. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
, Battelle
Battelle Memorial Institute
Battelle Memorial Institute is a private nonprofit applied science and technology development company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Battelle is a charitable trust organized as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Ohio and is exempt from taxation under Section 501 of the...
and the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
had been selected as the new management contractors for the NNL . The contract was for an initial three-year period with options to be extended by up to two years . DECC had been engaged in competitive dialogue with the winning consortium as well as QQEST, a joint venture between QinetiQ
QinetiQ
Qinetiq is a British global defence technology company, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency , when it was split up in June 2001...
and EnergySolutions, since October 2008 .
The management contract commenced on 1 April 2009, when ownership of the NNL transferred from BNFL directly to DECC with shareholder responsibilities delegated to the Shareholder Executive
Shareholder executive
The Shareholder Executive is the body within the British Government responsible for managing the government's financial interest in a range of public companies. Originally established within the Cabinet Office, it has since 2004 been part of the Department for Business...
. From day one of the new contract, the focus was on positioning the NNL as the employer of choice for nuclear scientists and engineers, and working in partnership with customers to deliver valuable solutions to the challenges faced by the national and international nuclear market . Mike Lawrence of Battelle
Battelle
Battelle may refer to:* Battelle Hall, multi-purpose arena and exhibit hall located in Columbus, Ohio* Battelle Memorial Institute, R&D organization that manages seven large U.S. national laboratories headquartered in Columbus, Ohio...
was appointed to lead the new NNL management team as Managing Director. He had more than 40 years of experience in the nuclear profession, including management of the United States Hanford Reservation and its massive site cleanup program, and his former role as the U.S. representative on nuclear matters to the International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
.
Locations
The Central Laboratory at SellafieldSellafield
Sellafield is a nuclear reprocessing site, close to the village of Seascale on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria, England. The site is served by Sellafield railway station. Sellafield is an off-shoot from the original nuclear reactor site at Windscale which is currently undergoing...
is the headquarters of the National Nuclear Laboratory and is the flagship nuclear Research and Development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
facility in the UK. It supports new reactor build, operation of reactors, operations of fuel processing plants and decommissioning and clean-up. Managed by the NNL, on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom formed by the Energy Act 2004. It came into existence in late 2004, and took on its main functions on 1 April 2005...
(NDA), the Central Laboratory is available to run a wide range of radioactive and non-radioactive experimental programmes. In addition, it offers a wide range of analytical services, building on its excellent location on the Sellafield
Sellafield
Sellafield is a nuclear reprocessing site, close to the village of Seascale on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria, England. The site is served by Sellafield railway station. Sellafield is an off-shoot from the original nuclear reactor site at Windscale which is currently undergoing...
site and considerable expertise of its resident technologists. Customers range from Government and the NDA to site licence companies, utilities, nuclear specialists and universities. The facility has been designed with flexibility and collaboration firmly at its heart. Smaller experiments can be easily set, taking advantage of the modular nature of the laboratories. Larger experiments and rigs can be assembled off site, installed and pre-tested in non-radioactive areas prior to active testing.
The Preston Laboratory on the Springfields site is designed to service the needs of businesses in low-activity uranium research and development as well as providing technical and business serviecs from an office base. It was opened in July 1997. The building has three main areas including Uranium-active facilities, non-active research and development facilities as well as office accommodation.
The Windscale Laboratory is an active handling and inspection facility based on Windscale Nuclear Licensed Site at Sellafield
Sellafield
Sellafield is a nuclear reprocessing site, close to the village of Seascale on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria, England. The site is served by Sellafield railway station. Sellafield is an off-shoot from the original nuclear reactor site at Windscale which is currently undergoing...
. The facility comprises a number of heavily shielded cells with remote operations enabling the handling, transfer, preparation and inspection of highly active materials.
The Workington Laboratory represents the NNL's non-active facility for undertaking various rig-work and pilot scale studies.
Other information
- The NNL (as Nexia Solutions) won RoSPA's prestigious Sector Award five times between 2004 and 2008.
- The NNL also won the IChemE HFL Excellence in Health and Safety' Award in 2008.