US to Partner with UK Firm to Advance Nuclear-Powered Commercial Ships

Stephen Carmel, Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), stated that the United States will sign an agreement with Core Power, a UK-based marine nuclear energy company, to jointly advance the development of a fleet of nuclear-powered commercial ships. Under the arrangement, Washington plans to sign a public-private cooperation agreement with Core Power. The company will participate in promoting the research and development of nuclear propulsion systems in the shipping sector, accelerating the exploration of applications for this technology in commercial vessels. In June of this year, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) approved a nuclear-powered ship design proposed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The design is regarded as a significant step forward in the U.S. technological pathway for nuclear-powered commercial ships...

2026-08-25

UK Wylfa SMR project early works package valued at up to £1.1 billion

Great British Energy–Nuclear (GBE-N) has launched market engagement for an early works package, with the proposed scope covering civil engineering, infrastructure, building and mechanical & electrical engineering, and earthworks. According to the prior information notice published on 20 August, the contract is estimated to be worth between £730 million and £1.1 billion. The notice states that the package falls within GBE-N's owner's scope of work, primarily intended to prepare the site for subsequent main construction and support technology partners in installing and commissioning small modular reactor (SMR) technology. Related preparatory activities include planning, permitting, design, and construction. ...

2026-08-24

US Boston Dynamics and UK Roke Expand Spot Robot Reconnaissance Applications for Nuclear Facilities

US-based Boston Dynamics is expanding its collaboration with overseas specialized defense solutions companies to promote the application of its quadruped robot Spot in industrial, defense, and high-risk operational scenarios. Leveraging Spot's mature mobile platform capabilities, the company aims to further enter industry sectors with high demand for unmanned operations by integrating software systems designed for reconnaissance in hazardous environments. Boston Dynamics' quadruped robot Spot is equipped with autonomous reconnaissance software SPROCKET developed by UK-based Roke. (Image courtesy of Roke) UK defense security R&D company Roke announced on the 22nd that it has deployed Spot quadruped...

2026-08-23

UK Low-Level Waste Disposal Site STIM Project Rail Transport Completed Ahead of Schedule

The Southern Trench Interim Membrane (STIM) project at the UK's Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria has completed its final aggregate rail deliveries, with related deliveries completed approximately one month ahead of schedule. Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) is progressing with capping works at the site, implementing long-term management of trenches and vaults used decades ago for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. The current focus is on replacing the protective membrane above the southern trenches. This membrane reduces rainwater infiltration into the waste areas below, helping to lower environmental risks and creating conditions for the subsequent final capping of the northern trenches. The STIM project requires substantial quantities of aggregate to be placed on the trench cover. Since February 2025...

2026-08-21

Immersive environment launched in West Cumbria to support nuclear decommissioning

AtkinsRéalis has recently supported Sellafield Ltd in establishing a new immersive environment at the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration facility (RAICo1) in West Cumbria, UK, to support the planning, rehearsal, and execution of nuclear decommissioning work. The project was developed in partnership between Sellafield Ltd and immersive technology company Igloo Vision. The new Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (RAICo1) facility in West Cumbria (Image courtesy of Sellafield Ltd) The 360-degree visualisation environment can accommodate up to 10 users and can integrate remotely operated robotic systems, live data streams, and visual information within a single interactive space...

2026-08-20

Bylor JV completes fire safety rectification at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station

On August 17, the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) confirmed that the project team operating under the name Bylor JV, comprising Laing O'Rourke and Bouygues Travaux Publics, has completed the requirements of two enforcement notices previously issued regarding fire safety deficiencies at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station construction site. Bylor JV is responsible for the main civil works at Hinkley Point C. ONR had previously identified significant fire safety management deficiencies at the construction site and subsequently took enforcement action. ONR stated that Bylor JV has now demonstrated that it has established appropriate systems to effectively manage fire risk on site.

2026-08-18

UK Atomic Energy Authority spins out Singular Machines

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has recently spun out Singular Machines, a UK engineering automation company. The company is commercializing artificial intelligence technologies originating from fusion engineering R&D scenarios and has secured strategic investment and new industry contracts. According to information released by UKAEA on August 17, Singular Machines has completed a round of strategic investment. The round was led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund and Oxford Science Enterprises, with participation from global engineering firm Arup and Japan's Miraiso...

2026-08-18

UK National Nuclear Laboratory Secures Nuclear Safeguards Programme Contract

The UK National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) has been awarded the Nuclear Safeguards Programme (NSP) contract by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The contract has an initial term of 3.5 years with committed funding of £10.5 million, with the possibility of further extensions. This contract continues the UK's 45 years of support for the global nuclear safeguards system, as well as the UK National Nuclear Laboratory's nearly 20 years of core work within that system. The UK National Nuclear Laboratory's responsibilities include providing technical support to the UK government in the nuclear field and driving the development of the UK's nuclear energy industry. The Nuclear Safeguards Programme is an important platform for fulfilling this responsibility, primarily providing nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation expertise to UK government departments and international partners...

2026-08-16

Lucideon Plans £500 Million UK CMC Manufacturing Facility to Strengthen Aerospace, Defense, and Nuclear Supply Chains

UK materials science consultancy Lucideon plans to build a manufacturing and R&D facility for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) at Keele University Science Park, with total project investment expected to exceed £500 million over the next 7 to 10 years. The plan aims to address the UK's capability gap in high-temperature ceramics and industrial-scale CMC manufacturing, serving key industries such as aerospace, defense, and nuclear energy, while enhancing the UK's autonomy and competitiveness in the global advanced materials supply chain. Ceramic matrix composites, consisting of ceramic fibers reinforcing a ceramic matrix, can withstand ultra-high temperatures, thermal shock, and mechanical impact, while offering weight reduction advantages over metallic materials, driving growing demand in high-performance engines, thermal protection...

2026-08-16

Finnish family-owned company Halton Group secures major order for UK's Sizewell C nuclear power project

Finnish family-owned company Halton Group has secured a significant order for the UK's Sizewell C nuclear power project, and will supply related equipment or systems for the construction of this large-scale nuclear power plant. The project has an installed capacity of 3.2 gigawatts, with the order value reaching the tens of millions of euros level. For an industrial company from Finland, this is not only a major breakthrough in a single project, but also demonstrates its competitiveness in the supply chain of high-demand energy infrastructure. Sizewell C is one of the key projects advancing the UK's new generation of nuclear power construction. Against the backdrop of Europe's energy structure adjustment and rising demand for low-carbon electricity, large-scale nuclear power plants have once again become an option for multiple countries to ensure power security and meet emission reduction targets.

2026-08-14

Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station Advances CCNSG Safety Passport Collaboration to Ensure Site Safety During Peak Construction

Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station in the UK is deepening its collaboration with the Client Contractor National Safety Group (CCNSG) to safeguard thousands of workers on site during the peak construction phase. Located in Somerset, the project is progressively transitioning from civil works to mechanical and electrical installation, placing greater demands on unified safety access standards and workforce competency. The CCNSG Safety Passport scheme, delivered by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), has been operating in the engineering construction industry for over 30 years, with more than 85,500 active cardholders. The scheme is industry-led and continuously overseen by a relevant committee, of which Hinkley Point C is a member.

2026-08-13

Major Fusion Energy Appointment in the UK: MIT Professor Dennis Whyte Named CEO of UKAEA

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has appointed Professor Dennis Whyte, a fusion energy expert from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as its new Chief Executive Officer, with his tenure officially commencing in autumn 2026. This appointment comes at a critical stage in the UK's accelerated push toward fusion energy commercialisation, signalling the country's intent to strengthen its position in the global fusion energy race by attracting international talent with combined expertise in research, engineering, and industrialisation. The UK government previously announced an investment of £2.5 billion in fusion energy research, development, and innovation over the five-year period ending in 2030. Upon taking office, Whyte will be tasked with advancing the R&D system, accelerating technology commercialisation, expanding industrial and international collaboration, and translating scientific...

2026-08-13

UK Low-Level Waste Repository Advances Capping Project, Rail-Transported Aggregate Exceeds 285,000 Tonnes

Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) is advancing capping-related works at the Low-Level Waste Repository on the west coast of Cumbria, UK, to strengthen long-term protection of existing disposal trenches and vaults. Since the repository began operations in 1959, it has supported the safe disposal of approximately 1 million cubic metres of low-level radioactive waste, making it a key facility in the UK's radioactive waste management system. NWS, part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), is primarily responsible for consolidating the UK's radioactive waste management capabilities, providing management solutions for legacy wastes from civil and defence sectors as well as wastes arising from future new-build nuclear projects...

2026-08-12

UK PhD Students Travel to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories for Hands-On Nuclear Energy Training

On August 10, 2026, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) welcomed its first cohort of PhD students from the United Kingdom. The visit is part of a five-year collaboration with the UK's Skills and Training Alliance for a Nuclear Renaissance Centre for Doctoral Training (SATURN CDT), marking the launch of a new long-term partnership in the international development of nuclear energy talent. SATURN CDT is funded by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and led by the University of Manchester, in partnership with seven UK universities. The program aims to provide the next generation of nuclear energy professionals with hands-on training beyond the classroom...

2026-08-11

UK Office for Nuclear Regulation Publishes New Safeguards Guidance

The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) published updated guidance on 10 August to help nuclear facility operators meet new requirements under the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit and Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. The amending regulations, which came into force in July this year, are regarded as a significant adjustment to the UK's nuclear safeguards regime. Safeguards measures are primarily used to verify whether a state complies with its international obligations, ensuring that nuclear materials in civil nuclear programmes are not diverted to non-peaceful purposes. The amendment modernises safeguards reporting requirements, with operators transitioning from the previous basic technical characteristics reports to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standardized design information questionnaire. The new regulations also...

2026-08-11

UK's Materials Detritiation Facility at Culham Resumes Operations to Support JET Fusion Decommissioning Materials Research

The UK Atomic Energy Authority recently announced that the Materials Detritiation Facility (MDF) at Culham has resumed operations following a 12-month engineering shutdown and upgrade. Experimental data produced by the facility has already been used to support research related to the removal of materials from the Joint European Torus (JET) device, providing a basis for waste management strategies under the JET Decommissioning and Repurposing (JDR) project. Over three years of plasma operations, deuterium-tritium (DT) experiments conducted at JET have left residual amounts of tritium in the tokamak's walls and internal components. This phenomenon is associated with tritium's tendency to enter materials under high-power fusion operating conditions. For JET decommissioning work, accurately determining the tritium...

2026-08-11

UK's Harlette Capital seeks partners to develop lunar micro nuclear reactor

UK-based innovative company Harlette Capital has recently issued a Request for Information (RFI), seeking support from industry and research institutions for the development of a micro nuclear reactor for lunar missions. The company stated that the project aims to provide continuous power for long-term scientific research, communications, infrastructure construction, and future crewed exploration on the lunar surface. Harlette Capital is previously better known for its luxury fashion brand Harlette. The company also operates a separate innovation business segment, which is positioning itself in space and energy assets and advancing a small modular reactor (SMR) project named Alpha Moon. According to the company, the RFI has been sent to...

2026-08-11

UK Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station Financing Finalized, Project Worth Over £26 Billion to Supply Power for 60 Years

The Sizewell C nuclear power station project in the UK has completed its final financing arrangements, marking the official entry into the definitive construction phase of this large-scale nuclear project with a total investment target of approximately £38 billion, equivalent to around RMB 261 billion. Located on the Suffolk coast of England, the project will feature two EPR Generation III pressurised water reactor units, with a total installed capacity of approximately 3.2 gigawatts and a design operational lifespan expected to reach 60 years. This project holds significant importance for the UK's energy system. In recent years, the UK has faced the dual pressures of accelerating the phase-out of ageing fossil fuel infrastructure on one hand, and managing the variability of renewable energy and growing electricity demand on the other. Once completed, Sizewell C will provide long...

2026-08-10

UK's MAST Upgrade sets plasma pressure record in fifth experimental campaign

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has completed the fifth experimental campaign of its flagship fusion experiment, MAST Upgrade. The campaign, conducted between 2025 and 2026 at the Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, UK, produced over 1,100 plasma pulses and achieved the device's highest-ever plasma pressure while overcoming plasma instability issues. In fusion devices, hydrogen isotopes must be heated, compressed, and confined under extremely high temperatures and pressures. The higher the plasma density and temperature, the stronger the fusion reaction, and high-pressure plasmas are also closer to the operating conditions required for future commercial fusion power plants. UKAEA stated that this...

2026-08-07

Final Voyage Completed for Rebar Cage Sea Transport to Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station

This summer, the cargo vessel Anfield Peak departed from the Port of Bristol in the UK, heading to Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station in Somerset. This marked the vessel's final voyage for the related transport mission. Previously, it had made over 100 round trips between the two locations, delivering factory-prefabricated rebar cages to the nuclear construction site. These rebar cages are large in volume and high in density, serving as critical foundational components in civil engineering construction. Under traditional practices, such rebar cages are typically prefabricated on-site before concrete pouring. The Hinkley Point C project, however, has shifted part of the rebar cage prefabrication process to a factory in Bristol, with the cages then transported by sea to the site for installation...

2026-08-06

UK Energy - Nuclear joins World Association of Nuclear Operators

Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) has joined the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) as a new member of its fifth membership category. This membership category is open to organizations worldwide that are planning, constructing, or preparing to operate new nuclear facilities. By joining WANO, GBE-N will gain access to the association's global professional network, operational experience feedback, and tailored support for new nuclear projects. WANO can provide assistance in the construction, commissioning, operational readiness, startup, and long-term safe and reliable operation of new nuclear plants. GBE-N, a UK government-owned entity, is advancing plans to deploy Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors in Gwynedd, North Wales (formerly known as Wylfa).

2026-08-06