Wednesday 10 September 2025

UKNNL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lynkeos Technology to advance nuclear muography – a revolutionary imaging technology that’s transforming how nuclear waste containers are monitored and enhancing safety standards across the nuclear sector. 

Monitoring nuclear waste containers safely and effectively presents one of the most complex challenges in the nuclear industry. Traditional inspection methods often require intrusive sampling, increasing radioactive exposure and contamination risks. Nuclear muography offers a groundbreaking solution to these challenges. 

Nuclear muography represents a significant advancement in nuclear inspection capabilities. The technology tracks natural muons from cosmic rays through objects using sophisticated particle detectors, creating detailed 3D density images even within heavy shielding. What makes this particularly valuable is its ability to avoid unnecessary intrusive sampling, minimising radioactive dose uptake and reducing contamination spread. 

UKNNL has been working alongside Lynkeos Technology and Sellafield Ltd for many years to develop this unique capability. Since 2019, this three-way collaboration has focused on real-world applications for nuclear waste monitoring and inspection. This partnership demonstrates how scientific expertise and collaborative innovation creates tangible value for nuclear operators whilst supporting programmes of national importance. 

The MoU cements a commitment to delivering robust, long-term muon imaging capabilities that will enhance nuclear safety standards across the sector, directly contributing to nuclear security whilst maintaining the highest safety standards. 

Wayne Muckley, UKNNL’s Chief Operations Officer, said: “We’re delighted to strengthen our partnership with Lynkeos Technology. This agreement represents our shared commitment to advancing muography as a transformative technology for nuclear inspection and monitoring. This technology could revolutionise how we approach condition monitoring of nuclear assets, providing unprecedented insights whilst maintaining the highest safety standards.” 

Dan Wright, Chairman of Lynkeos Technology added: “After more than ten years of successful collaboration, this Memorandum of Understanding marks the next chapter in our shared commitment to nuclear innovation. Muography offers a fundamentally safer approach to nuclear waste inspection, and through this partnership with UKNNL, we’re positioning the UK as a global leader in this transformative technology. The applications extend far beyond nuclear waste. This is about creating a safer, more efficient future for the entire nuclear industry.” 

Collaborative innovation like this drives progress in the nuclear sector and enhances the UK’s nuclear capabilities, reinforcing UKNNL’s mission to enable and deliver nuclear outcomes for government and to support growth of the UK nuclear sector. The partnership also reinforces UKNNL’s commitment to delivering practical nuclear research and enabling decommissioning programmes.  

This advancement in nuclear safety and monitoring technology showcases how UKNNL continues to provide world-class nuclear expertise to partners that benefits the UK nuclear sector and supports programmes of national importance.