EDF Energy inspection Innovation Challenge

Deadline: 2016-09-28
Award: £5,000 - £10,000

This competition has 2 themes based on the following 2 challenges. Challenge 1 relates to EDF Energy’s existing nuclear power stations. Challenge 2 relates to EDF Energy Renewables’ offshore wind farms. EDF Energy is seeking proposals for feasibility studies to address one or both of these challenges.

EDF Energy operates 14 advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR). They provide about 18% of the UK’s electricity. EDF Energy has designed its R&D programme to show how it will extend lifetime of these reactors in a safe and cost-effective way. Access to accurate data on the state of the different critical components is vital.

EDF Energy regularly inspects several of the components to monitor their condition and uses this information to predict how the components will behave as the plant ages. Because many of the components are within the reactor or boilers they are not easily accessible and require complex inspection arrangements.

EDF Energy is looking for innovative solutions, in particular: a) new manipulators for access, b) new probes and techniques for inspection, c) remote sampling techniques, and d) solutions to decommissioning challenges.