Manufacture & Materials for Fission & Fusion Net-zero 2025

The UK strategy for energy security and net-zero carbon emissions envisages nuclear power as a source of electricity for decades to come. Alongside existing technologies, new options are being developed including small modular reactors and advanced high temperature fission nuclear reactors and fusion power plants. The UK government is strongly supporting the development of these systems with funding for R&D activities in industry and academia. The requirement to ensure safety and integrity of components designed to operate in excess of 60 years in some of the most challenging service conditions on the planet whilst controlling cost is driving a need for significant innovation in materials and their manufacture.

The need to ensure safety and integrity of components designed to operate in excess of 60 years in some of the most challenging service conditions on the planet whilst controlling cost is leading to significant materials and fabrication challenges. This seminar will bring together parties across industry and academia to highlight the current challenges faced by the industry and discuss possible solutions that may be available. This seminar will provide a forum for professionals to share experience in the developments being undertaken across the various reactor concepts, addressing the challenges described.

 

Conference Sponsor

 

This one-day conference will promote the understanding of the behaviour of high temperature structural materials with a view to improving both their reliability and performance in service applications.

Presentation topics will cover:

  • Performance of existing materials in the nuclear industry

  • Materials being developed for the range of new nuclear power generation technologies

  • State of the art manufacturing and fabrication techniques

  • Materials and structural integrity issues to still be addressed with these new nuclear generation technologies

Who should attend?

The target audience for this conference is the burgeoning nuclear research and development sector in the UK and overseas, targeting both industry, government laboratories and academia, along with materials scientists and engineers working for nuclear reactor developers or consultancies.

The aim is to provide an opportunity for this existing group of organisations, along with those outside of the current nuclear industry but interested in engaging with this industry, to understand the technical challenges and potential innovations in materials and manufacture for current and future nuclear technologies.

Organisations involved in this seminar include UKAEA, ONR, Rolls Royce, Amentum, Bristol University, the Nuclear Innovation and Research Office, EDF Energy, Materials Processing Institute, and others.

Presentation and poster opportunities available

Prospective authors are invited to submit 200 word abstracts on any of the topics highlighted above for consideration in the programme. Deadline for submission: 30 April 2025 Presentations will be 20 minutes followed by Q&A.

Submit abstract

 

The conference is organised on behalf of the IOM3 Energy Materials Group. This aims to benefit industry by the promotion of the understanding of the behaviour of high temperature structural materials with a view to improving both their reliability and performance in service

Find out more

 

This activity is approved for Professional Development by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining

 

Approved for CPD by IOM3 recognises the importance of ongoing learning for professional development.  This could be through the attendance of a single lecture, a series of lectures, or a conference, in person, virtually or in a blended format.  We understand the need to keep your knowledge up to date and the value of peer-to-peer networking.