Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government, who drive productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base.

UKRI convenes, catalyses and invests in close collaboration with others to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system.

The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is a UK government owned and operated nuclear services technology provider covering the whole of the nuclear fuel cycle.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is a non-departmental public body created through the Energy Act (2004).

‘Breaking the cycle of nuclear indecision: Government must act’:

In 2015 the UK Government committed to invest up to £505 million in an ambitious research and development programme named the Energy Innovation Programme (EIP) to bring technologies towards commercialisation. The Programme aimed to support innovation that would deliver cost-effective solutions contributing to a decarbonised energy supply, economic growth, and jobs in the UK energy sector and its supply chain. The Nuclear Innovation Programme (NIP) formed part of EIP, running from 2016 to 2021 the NIP set out to further the UK’s civil nuclear energy objectives.

The links below provide more information on the make up of the Nuclear Innovation Programme and a brochure showcasing the achievements of the programme.

As part of the Call for Evidence on the potential of high temperature gas reactors to support the AMR RD&D programme, four reports were referenced which all recognise the potential role of AMRs in supporting a future clean energy system. The reports highlight that the unique characteristic of certain AMRs is the high temperature heat that could help unlock the decarbonisation of several energy vectors such as low carbon hydrogen production and process heat in industrial processes.

The Royal Society report highlighted that the high temperature requirement could be satisfied by HTGRs due to their ability to reach temperatures >600°C

The NIRAB and University of Manchester Dalton Nuclear Institute specifically noted HTGRs as the most promising AMR technology to support Net Zero due to the maturity of the technology, synergies with UK technical experience & historical operating experience.

This report has been produced by a finance industry taskforce set up in 2020 by the Economic Modelling Work Group (EMWG) of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) to consider the nuclear industry’s ability to report against Environmental, Social and Governance data collection and accounting metrics (ESG). Reporting well against ESG allows nuclear energy to be considered as an investable asset class; thereby allowing nuclear companies and projects to access climate finance. The report has been produced by the finance community for the finance community.

This catalogue brings together and builds on existing information about UK nuclear fission research and development (R&D) facilities. It aims to provide a comprehensive list of all equipment and capabilities, updated contacts for users and access requirements.

UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and The Henry Royce Institute for advanced materials (Royce) roadmap for developing materials for fusion energy.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-fusion-materials-roadmap-aims-to-accelerate-progress-in-developing-fusion-power-plants