Atkins and Assystem have already forged a strong relationship as they are working together on the ITER international nuclear fusion research project in the south of France, having been selected in April 2010 as part of the Engage consortium to act as Building Architect Engineer.

ITER - the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
ITER is a large-scale scientific experiment to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of fusion power. It is one of the most challenging and innovative scientific projects in the world today, involving parties representing over half of the world’s population. The Architect Engineer role is being delivered jointly by Atkins and Assystem to an eight year programme by a 200 strong integrated team at the ITER site in Cadarache. When completed, the site will comprise over forty buildings including the 50m x 200m Tokamak complex, designed to modern nuclear standards.

The role involves:

  • Design of all the buildings
  • Pre and post contract services to select, appoint and manage construction contracts
  • Site supervision
  • Master planning and detailed programme management
  • Budget and financial management
  • Site management
EDF Energy - Support for the Nuclear Site Licence
Application for the Nuclear New Build Project
Atkins provides a range of nuclear sector safety, environmental and engineering specialists to support EDF Energy in the preparation of the applications for Nuclear Site Licences (NSL) and environmental permits for the UK new build projects. This includes input to the management systems and arrangements to support their claims in the management prospectus and applications for licences and environmental permits and consents.

Our work includes:

  • Specialist input to all aspects of a Nuclear Site Licence application and, in particular, the production of processes, procedures and arrangements to support the requirements of the Conditions of the Nuclear Site Licence and environmental permits
  • Assistance for developing and implementing a programme supporting the demonstration of a capable and intelligent customer, operator and prospective nuclear licensee with underpinning safety culture
  • Providing overall project management support for delivery of the NSL and environmental permit applications
  • Assisting with the management of the planning application
Department of Energy and Climate Change - Strategic Siting Assessment for New Nuclear Power stations
Atkins supported the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in developing the Strategic Siting Assessment (SSA) process to select sites for the next generation of new nuclear power stations.

The Government is used a set of technical criteria to carry out a Strategic Siting Assessment (SSA) of eleven industry nominated sites across England and Wales with the support of Atkins.

Atkins developed two main types of criteria for the SSA:

  • Exclusionary, which categorically prevent development in certain locations.
  • Discretionary, which may prevent development in certain locations, depending on the mitigating actions proposed by the developer.

Atkins also needed to ensure the criteria considered that sites are sustainable during construction, operation and decommissioning (a period in excess of 100 years).  Therefore, criteria needed to take account of the latest forecasts on climate change, sea level rise and protection of various international/ national ecological designations.

Government and Regulators are currently using the SSA criteria to determine whether each of the nominated sites is potentially suitable for deployment by 2025.