How do operational fusion power plants compare in risk profile to more traditional industrial installations?
Background
HSE Strategic Objective: Enable industry to innovate safely to prevent major incidents, supporting the move to net zero (https://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/assets/docs/the-hse-strategy.pdf)
HSE has a significant part to play in the safe delivery of the government’s commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas by 2050. Transitioning to a carbon neutral economy will see more innovative technologies and processes, which will present new risk. The scope of our research will underpin work to make sure that health and safety legislation does not prevent safe innovation and progress and will contribute towards enabling a safe transition across all industry sectors. We also understand that this is a phased change, and we continue to prioritise research to support maintaining our role in regulating the major hazards in existing energy industries.
To help manage risk, we will focus our attention on the breadth of activities that net zero encompasses. This will provide evidence to inform any policy, regulatory and operational changes needed to support key stakeholders.
To address the knowledge gaps we will adopt a broad approach including identifying and synthesising existing/developing evidence; influencing, fostering partnerships and collaborating with others; having the assurance frameworks to ensure that commissioned research is aligned to addressing the most prioritised knowledge gaps and is the optimum approach to deriving the evidence.
For some technologies, the level of interest, developments and activity is such that inter-related research activities necessitate coordination via a programme model. This is currently the case for the technological areas of carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) and gaseous hydrogen. There is also significant activity in the battery technology area and alternative liquid fuels, particularly liquid hydrogen.
The questions provide more detail of the evidence needs within the main Areas of Research Interest Question Group.
Next steps
Get in touch: [email protected]
Source
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
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Related UKRI funded projects
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UKAEA / EPSRC Fusion Grant 2022/27
As energy demand increases and the impacts of climate change worsen, fusion offers the prospect of abundant, agile, low-carbon, baseload supply. During the next five years, fusion reaches a defining period. ITER - a ~20B...
Funded by: EPSRC
Lead research organisation: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Why might this be relevant?
The project specifically addresses the comparison of risk profiles between fusion power plants and traditional industrial installations, providing detailed information on the challenges and uncertainties involved.
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Bay Fusion - Creation of a commercial fusion industry cluster
[Bay Fusion][0] was created to promote the development and operation of fusion energy technology in the north west of England, focussed around Morecambe Bay which is central to the North West Energy Coast and the North W...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Lead research organisation: BAY FUSION LIMITED
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it focuses on the development and operation of fusion energy technology, but does not directly compare risk profiles.
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GEMINI 4.0
In Europe, electricity represents only ¼ of CO2 emissions. Therefore, the European decarbonisation objectives cannot be met without addressing the othersources of emissions as well, mainly industry and transport. ...
Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee
Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Why might this be relevant?
Fully relevant as it addresses the decarbonization of industrial activities and the safety of the combined plant, directly comparing risk profiles.