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For full details and to register to join, please visit the event website.
Please briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience with regards to the management of ageing nuclear assets
Jonathan Bates(JB): In my role as a Mechanical Responsible Engineer at Sellafield Ltd I lead a team of Mechanical Design Engineers to deliver engineered solutions to retrieve nuclear waste and decommission some of the highest hazard nuclear facilities in the world. I have delivered a wide array of projects and tasks ranging from new major retrievals projects, recoveries from major breakdowns and improvements to existing assets to extend life.
As design engineers we have huge influence on the definition of the operational performance of the equipment, systems and processes we develop. In a world where we are so heavily focussed on the capital performance of our projects, we need to better understand the impacts some of the decisions we make in design have on operational performance.
What is the top challenge facing your industry at present?
JB: In my opinion the biggest challenge we currently face as an industry, whether that’s nuclear new build or decommissioning, is stakeholder confidence. I believe nuclear will play a key role in achieving net-zero, but that view is not shared across the wider public, in part due to past events like Fukushima and Chernobyl. A key part of rebuilding confidence is demonstrating that we are dealing with the problems of legacy nuclear facilities of yesteryear to smooth the way for the new facilities of tomorrow.
How would you say your industry has evolved over the past two years?
JR: In August 2023 Sellafield Ltd was officially retrieving and safely storing Nuclear Waste from all of its legacy ponds and silos, which are some of the highest hazard facilities on Sellafield site. This achievement cannot be understated, its demonstrable progress that we are de-risking the site.
What developments are going on in your industry that may have an impact on the development of future approaches to nuclear asset management and decommissioning?
JB: In Nuclear Decommissioning we are always looking to innovate and are constantly horizon scanning for technology that other industries are employing that we can use to support our missions. An example of this is the integration of automated robotic processes for operations that people couldn’t complete due to the associated hazards. For example, on my current project we have developed a semi-automated waste handling area using Automated Guided Vehicles to move waste containers through the facility.
What will you be presenting at the ‘Managing Ageing Nuclear Assets and Decommissioning’ conference and how will this benefit participants?
JB: My presentation is on “Design for Maintenance and Later Life Management”. I am hoping to get designers to start thinking more about the importance of an asset to a facility and to start making decisions with a long-term operational performance view. I’ll be using an example from my own experience on extending the design life of an asset from 5 to 20 years.
Which other speakers and presentations are you looking forward to hearing at the forthcoming seminar?
JB: I am looking forward to all the presentations, asset management is a topic particularly close to my heart. I am particularly looking forward to some of the views on nuclear asset management from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Office of Nuclear Regulation as key stakeholders for the industry.
Why is it important for engineers and industry to come together at this event and share best practice?
JB: Even though we all have unique challenges on the projects and assets we work on its important we share our experiences and exploit opportunities to improve. Networking will be an important aspect to the conference.
The Managing Ageing Nuclear Assets and Decommissioning conference will take place on 22-23 May 2024 at the Emirates Stadium, Manchester.
Bringing together the foremost site holders and experts together with the industry regulators, the conference is a key forum to address both the challenges of maintaining asset integrity beyond intended lifecycle and the process of decommissioning.
Presentations include input from Office for Nuclear Regulation, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield, Harbour Energy, Sellafield, AWE, UKAEA, Cavendish Nuclear and more.
For full details and to register to join, please visit the event website.