The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has renewed its multimillion-pound Embedded Engineering Resource Framework (“the Framework”) with seven companies. The renewal follows a successful four-year supply of a breadth of engineering resources to UKAEA in support of its mission to deliver fusion energy.
The Framework, with a value up to £9m, supports the development of a UK industrial supply chain capability. It affords companies the opportunity to embed and upskill their own engineers within the multiple projects and programme areas at UKAEA as it undertakes fusion energy research.
Gary Stables, Engineering Frameworks Contract Project Manager, UKAEA, said:
Embedding engineers within UKAEA is a win-win. The embedded engineers help to progress key fusion projects, while gaining valuable skills and experience in fusion. Boosting fusion expertise across the engineering sector is vital for the development of fusion energy and maximising the benefits to industry.
Following the success of the first Embedded Engineering Resource Framework, UKAEA will be renewing it for another four years. Now with increased capacity to access technical expertise from selected industrial partners, the Framework will help accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy.
Additionally the Framework continues to create the opportunity for companies to collaborate with each other on fusion projects and, crucially, to bring in their supply chain to support fusion projects growing the fusion ecosystem.
The framework features companies with expertise in some or all of the following disciplines:
- mechanical engineering
- process engineering
- electrical, control & instrumentation engineering
- engineering analysis and code development
- structural and geotechnical engineering
- materials engineering
- systems engineering
Successes from the past four years include embedding more than 80 engineers within the following programme areas:
- JET Decommissioning and Repurposing (JDR)
- Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE)
- Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Upgrade
- Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP)
- Fusion Technology (FT)
- Materials Research Facility (MRF)
UKAEA technical leads and embedded engineers have given feedback on the benefits of the Framework:
Ben Quirk, Senior Mechanical Engineer, UKAEA, said:
Working on the industry survey of available technologies for sub-surface damage inspection with the embedded engineer was very rewarding. They did an excellent job leading the investigation into potential technologies to undertake in-bore pipe repair. The engineer worked in collaboration with a wide-ranging team of engineers – both within UKAEA and from partner organisations – and gained skills and know-how about additive manufacturing techniques for the fusion market.
Dean McGarragel, Mechanical Engineer, M5tec, said:
Working on this project has furthered my knowledge of fusion technologies, particularly the materials required in a fusion environment and their properties. I also gained insight into modern UK additive manufacturing, the material deposition technology sector, and the capabilities and constraints associated with these technologies. Working with a team of engineers, embedded within UKAEA, from a range of companies and backgrounds, was an inspiring example of cross-collaboration to advance fusion energy and position the UK as a global leader in the industry.
The companies which are part of the renewed Framework are:
- Amentum Clean Energy Ltd
- AtkinsRėalis Ltd
- BakerHicks Ltd
- Demcon Multiphysics B.V
- Frazer Nash Consultancy Ltd
- Optima Systems Consultancy Ltd
- Oxford Sigma Ltd
