Developing advanced reactors for nuclear: apply for contracts
Organisations can apply for a share of £4 million to carry out feasibility studies into the development of nuclear advanced modular reactors.
Interior of power plant with large chimney. Credit: Anna Vaczi at Shutterstock.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has up to £44 million to invest in an advanced modular reactor feasibility and development programme.
Up to £4 million pound is available for projects that look into the feasibility of designing new reactors that maximise the amount of off-site building and can generate lower cost electricity and provide additional benefits.
A further £40 million could be available to develop the best projects from the first phase of the competition.
The funding is for contracts under the SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative).
Providing low-cost electricity
The government believes nuclear energy will be an important part of the future energy mix. However, it needs to be competitive with other sources of low-carbon energy or provide additional benefits and functionality.
BEIS is looking for projects that focus on at least one of the following areas:
- low-cost electricity generation
- increased flexibility in providing electricity to the grid
- additional functionality such as heat output for domestic or industrial use or production of hydrogen
- alternative applications that could generate revenue and economic growth such as radioisotope production
Competition information
- the competition opens on 7 December 2017, and the deadline for registration is at midday on 7 February 2018
- SBRI is open to any organisation that can demonstrate a route to market for its idea
- projects should be led by organisations with experience in nuclear reactor technologies. They are encouraged to work with innovative organisations both inside and outside the sector
- we expect contracts for feasibility projects to be up to £300,000 and for projects to last up to 8 months
- successful projects will attract 100% funded development contracts
- a briefing event will be held on 12 December 2017