This report provides NIRAB expert opinion on the impact that the Nuclear Innovation Programme (NIP), running from 2016-2022, has had on nuclear innovation in the UK, in response to a request from the Department for
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). BEIS also requested a NIRAB opinion on what research and development within the UK, if anything, could be stopped; what else needs prioritising and what R&D is needed in order to build an AMR demonstrator to the timescale necessary for a meaningful contribution to net zero emissions by 2050.
This report, validated at the September 2022 Board, presents NIRAB’s view of the impact of the Nuclear Innovation Programme (NIP), where it has supported the Nuclear Industrial Strategy aspirations, and contributed to fulfilling its high-level objectives. NIRAB is aware that Government is in the process of commissioning a comprehensive evaluation of the NIP via a commercial process which is likely to report in late 2023, and will provide additional advice. NIRAB does not have access to detailed information such as project deliverables or Key Performance Indicator (KPI) data, and therefore the NIRAB advice contained herein has been developed from the open literature, principally information provided in the NIP summary brochure which summarises the scope and the key achievements of each of the contracts making up the NIP, alongside NIRAB members’ own expertise and involvement in the various programmes.