The 30-year journey to an underground facility for long-term nuclear waste storage

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below. In this month’s episode we discuss the UK’s long-term plan for a vast underground storage facility for nuclear waste – known as a geological disposal facility (GDF) – with Nuclear Waste Services (NWS). NWS chief scientific adviser Neil Hyatt and NWS head of major permissions Malcolm Orford join host Rob Hakimian to discuss the need for a GDF, especially in the context of the UK ramping up its nuclear power intentions. They discuss examples of similar facilities being developed elsewhere in the world and how the UK’s will compare. Malcolm and Neil also talk about the long process of getting to build a GDF, including the extensive dialogue and collaboration with the communities that could potentially host it, the in-depth siting process, and what NWS is looking for to determine its final location. Looking even further into the future, the guests tell Rob about the potential construction and engineering that would be required to undertake an infrastructure of this scale and when we might see work begin. Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporter Tom Pashby to discuss the recent annual review from the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (Nista), which gives green, amber or red ratings to all of the UK’s in-development infrastructure projects based on how likely they are to be delivered.

Joining host Rob Hakimian this month is Mind Foundry director of civil infrastructure Tom Bartley to discuss how the business is working on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into our infrastructure maintenance and management processes. Tom discusses the issues with current structural maintenance regimes and how AI can help to empower the workforce to overcome these constraints. He explains the concept of “digital custodianship” of structures and how Mind Foundry’s new phone app is expanding the accessibility to its tools. Rob and Tom also discuss the work that Mind Foundry has done with HS2 and Sir Robert McAlpine, as well as the potential for AI use in infrastructure to change the way assets are insured. Tom also talks about the work that Mind Foundry is doing with the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) to ensure that use of AI remains both ethical and safe in hazardous contexts. Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporter Tom Pashby to discuss all the recent developments with the Sizewell C nuclear plant including the funding agreement, recent work on site and appointment of a main civils contractor.

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below. After a busy month of infrastructure commitments from the UK government, host Rob Hakimian welcomes Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) director of policy and external affairs Sam Gould to the podcast to discuss it all. They touch on spending settlements for England’s city regions to upgrade their transport offerings, investment in the railways via projects such as HS2 and East West Rail, the large financial commitments to nuclear energy including Sizewell C and small modular reactors (SMRs) and more. Gould also talks about what the updates to the Green Book could mean for improving delivery of infrastructure and the certainty that the release of the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy will bring to private entities looking to invest in the UK’s future. Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporter Tom Pashby to discuss the Industrial Strategy, specifically the way that it entwines the UK’s civil nuclear and defence nuclear sectors.

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below. This month’s guest is WSP associate structural engineer Sally Walsh, who joins the podcast to discuss steel reuse in construction, specifically on the Elephant & Castle Town Centre scheme. The Elephant & Castle Town Centre scheme is regenerating a lively part of central London into a vibrant new mixed-use hub with ample living space, commercial offerings and public spaces. WSP is the structural and geotechnical engineer on the project and Sally has been at the heart of the decision-making, which has seen the firm push the contractor to utilise reused steel in some of the structures – a first for the consultant. In this discussion, we cover how the decision was made to make this WSP’s first project to attempt steel reuse, how it was implemented and the learnings – both positive and negative – that have come out of it. Sally and host Rob Hakimian then broaden out the discussion into how steel reuse could become business as usual in the sector – the types of projects where it is most suited, the barriers that stand in the way and the benefits that it could bring to the built environment. Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporter Thomas Johnson to discuss recent revelations about the HS2 “bat shed” and the upcoming outcomes from the government’s Spending Review.

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below. This month’s guest is Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) President Jim Hall, who joins host Rob Hakimian to discuss the work of the ICE in representing and supporting civil engineers in the modern construction and economic landscape. After getting to know Jim, hearing about his storied career and new role at the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (Nista), the discussion turns to emerging considerations in the sector, including the need to improve efficiency in the workforce and build infrastructure resilience. They discuss how digitisation is a growing tool in this field and how the ICE is seeking to foster collaboration through its knowledge services to bring forward cutting edge solutions. Lastly, they look ahead to what future civil engineers can expect and how the ICE is providing pathways to reflect the diversity of the profession and bring new talent into it. Before the interview section, Rob is joined by NCE senior report Tom Pashby to discuss the launch of Nista and infrastructure preparedness for space weather.

This month’s guest is Civic Engineers associate director Sam Harland who talks to host Rob Hakimian about the Building Safety Act 2022 and how it is changing the way that engineers are working. They talk about how it has introduced new processes, particularly for structural engineers like Harland, with the tightening of design competency requirements, the introduction of the gateway process and the creation of the Golden Thread for buildings. The discussion particularly focuses on what this means for works on existing buildings and how engineers now have to carry out extensive investigations to uncover their structural health and history. Harland also provides insight on how implementation of the Act has been difficult and how it might drive the future of the sector. Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporters Thomas Johnson and Tom Pashby to discuss some of the reporting they have been doing on the Havant Thicket Reservoir, water quality in the River Thames and the protracted consenting process for the Aquind Interconnector.  

This month we’re discussing the Ofwat Innovation Fund and we’re joined by Ofwat director for environment and innovation Jo Jolly alongside representatives of two companies who have been part of innovations that have been boosted by the fund: Royal HaskoningDHV UK water sector director Paul Lavender and Changemaker 3D CEO and cofounder Natalie Wadley. The chat starts with a focus on how the Innovation Fund was set up and how it is helping to overcome issues that are being faced in the UK water sector. It then broadens into how it is encouraging greater collaboration between different parts of the sector and we hear firsthand from both Paul and Natalie about how their innovations have come together and how they are being put to use. We then look ahead at the future of the Innovation Fund, what’s next for the initiatives that have been developed through it and the bigger picture of how they will help long-term water security in the UK. You can find out more about the initiatives brought forward by the Innovation Fund through the learning reports at waterinnovation.challenges.org/insights Prior to the Ofwat section, host Rob Hakimian is joined by NCE senior reporters Tom Pashby and Thomas Johnson to talk about their recent reporting on plutonium stockpiles and groundwater flooding respectively.

This month’s guest is Ronan O’Driscoll, an engineer who has worked in a variety of sectors in his storied career – often in temporary works, which is what he is doing in his current role working on the construction of Hinkley Point C. Having amassed a wealth of knowledge over his time in the sector, O’Driscoll has put together a free-to-download guide called Construction Engineering – A Guide to Temporary Works in Construction & BS5975 : 2019. It collects together a vast range of temporary works practices, and you can acquire it, no email necessary, from constructionengineering.uk In the conversation, O’Driscoll tells host Rob Hakimian about his career and how he came to compile the nearly-900-page document. They then move on to discussing temporary works at large – the history, the variety, the importance, good practice, bad practice, misconceptions and more. Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporter Tom Pashby to discuss the ever-increasing scrutiny on the cost of Sizewell C nuclear power station, before flipping over to defence nuclear to discuss a major opportunity for civils firms to gain work constructing a new nuclear weapons facility for AWE (the Atomic Weapons Establishment).

Our innovation experts Samuel Stephens, director, head of digital, nuclear at AtkinsRéalis and Angela MacOscar, director of innovation at Northumbrian Water, grill two innovators about their technology.  In this launch episode, recorded live at Techfest, they speak with FC Laboratories’ Matthew Norbury about their AI-powered wearable neurotech to support brain fitness, and Matt Barney, chief hydrogen officer at Geopura about their Hydrogen Power Unit, designed to replace diesel generator power on site. Hydrogen power units have the potential to decarbonise construction activity by replacing diesel generators with green hydrogen. But how is the low carbon nature of that hydrogen assured and how site-ready are these new units?  Wearable fitness and safety technology has come a long way, so can brain fitness neurotech help improve wellbeing and safety by identifying fatigue and stress for those working on site and in potentially high risk roles?  Listen to our podcast to find out!

This month’s guest is Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) trustee for policy and external affairs Jonathan Spruce, who joins host Rob Hakimian to discuss the trials of the UK’s megaproject High Speed 2 (HS2). The ICE recently put out a report about what went wrong with the project and lessons that can be taken forward to other projects, compiled through interviews with people at all levels in the project. Jonathan and Rob discuss the findings of the report as well as developments with HS2 since its publication, debating the role of HS2 Ltd, the handling of the project by the various governments entrusted with its management, how the messaging around the desired outcomes of the project needed to be refined and much more. Prior to the interview portion, Rob is joined by NCE senior reporter Tom Pashby to discuss their recent reporting about the developments in delivering Saudi Arabia’s gigaproject Neom, especially in light of the recent ITV documentary which shed light on the abject working conditions for migrants.