On 30th October, James Marrow (Professor in Energy Materials, University of Oxford) gave a public lecture organised by Central England Branch of the Nuclear Institute at Ridgeway House on the Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire.
The talk outlined the increasing pressure to develop sustainable energy technologies and the role that nuclear energy can contribute to this. The lecture was well attended by a cross-section of nuclear professionals from local offices. Among those in attendance were experts from National Nuclear Laboratories, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
Professor Marrow spoke of how fast neutron reactors with closed fuel cycles can offer the potential to reduce the volumes of high-level waste associated with current LWR technologies and also contribute to the more efficient use of uranium resources. This broad class of next generation nuclear fission plant concepts are generally referred to as “Generation IV” systems or concepts. The foreseen operating conditions of the Generation IV concepts will place significant demands on their structural materials and his talk focussed on some of the key challenges faced by the forerunner designs.
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Professor James Marrow delivering his lecture at Central England Branch.
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Professor James Marrow delivering his lecture at Central England Branch.