Hitachi to open European nuclear research center

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Hitachi Ltd on Thursday announced that it will open a new R&D base in the UK – the European Nuclear Research Center (ENRC) – on Sept 30. The center will not only coordinate Hitachi’s nuclear research activities in Europe formed by a core team, but also provide additional resources to facilitate the development of safe and efficient nuclear power technologies based on advanced plant maintenance technology and proven decommissioning techniques in Europe.

Through the ENRC, Hitachi will be conducting joint research with UK and European universities to bring together the leading technologies developed in Europe and Hitachi’s BWR (Boiling Water Reactor) technology, to develop even safer and more efficient nuclear power technologies, including technology to reduce the level of radiation exposure to plant personnel, and technology to raise plant utilization. Hitachi will also be undertaking R&D for medium to long-term issues such as reducing the volume of waste and lowering the cost of decommissioning.

The nuclear power industry in the UK has a long history which dates back to the beginning of commercial operation of the Calder Hall Nuclear Power Station in 1956. The R&D that has underpinned the industry has mainly been conducted at universities, and is particularly strong in basic research fields such as materials and analytical measurement, as well as decommissioning techniques, including the disposal of waste, since there is a large number of aging nuclear power facilities in the UK.

Since April 2014, Hitachi has been collaborating with The University of Manchester on technology to reduce the level of radiation exposure in annual inspection. Further, Hitachi has been working to actively develop the infrastructure of nuclear power generation in Europe.

In August this year, the GDA (Generic Design Assessment) of the UK ABWR (Advanced Boiling Water Reactor) moved to step 3 for Hitachi’s new UK Nuclear Power Plant Project, operated by Horizon Nuclear Power Ltd, which Hitachi acquired in November 2012.

In addition, at the end of July, Hitachi came to an agreement with the Lithuanian Ministry of Energy to discuss establishment of the Project Company to proceed with the Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant Project in Lithuania.