Hitachi signs MOU with Imperial College and Bangor University

Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with Imperial College London and Bangor University to support Welsh and British nuclear expertise.

As part of the agreement, the nuclear developer will provide industry advice to Imperial and Bangor’s newly formed ‘Boiling Water Reactor Research Hub and Network’. This will include part-time deployment of a researcher to Bangor, and building on the existing programme of Japanese internships for UK students.

Hitachi-GE is already supporting nuclear development in North Wales, providing the UK advanced boiling water reactor to Horizon Nuclear Power for Wylfa Newydd, under contract to delivery team Menter Newydd.

Hitachi-GE president and representative director Hidetoshi Takehara said: “This is about helping create a deeper and broader pool of BWR expertise here in Wales and across the UK, supporting the engineers and industry of the future.

“This hub provides focus and coordination to BWR research, ensuring that Wales and the UK develop real expertise in BWR technology for now, and for the future.

“With development of the UKs first BWR proposed just up the road at Wylfa Newydd, this scheme helps ensure that project is a springboard to the UK becoming a world-power in its domestic expertise on BWR technology.”

Director of the Centre for Nuclear Engineering at Imperial, Michael Bluck, said: “Imperial is proud to be working with Hitachi-GE and Bangor University to establish greater Boiling Water Reactor expertise in the UK.

“This scheme which will examine research needs and formulate projects to support the continued production of low carbon, baseload electricity for the UK and many other countries for decades to come.

“The BWR Research Hub and Network will bring together the UK research base with Hitachi Nuclear researchers to help develop future generations of Boiling Water Reactor technology here in the UK and Wales.”