Tuesday 9 December 2025

Do you work in Structural Materials, Fuels and Cladding, Irradiation Damage or Disposability?

Join us to be part of a groundbreaking initiative shaping the future of nuclear fission materials research and development in the UK.

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL), in partnership with the Henry Royce Institute, is bringing together experts from across industry, academia and government to develop the UK Fission Materials Roadmap – and you can still register to participate in upcoming workshops.

Why this matters
Fission materials include all the materials needed to ensure nuclear reactors can be designed, operated, monitored and subsequently decommissioned safely, effectively, and efficiently. The Fission Materials Roadmap covers materials aspects across the fuel cycle from mining and enrichment to disposal.

One example is the cladding which holds uranium fuel pellets – making fuel rods. When inside the reactor, nuclear reactions within the fuel pellets create heat that turns water into steam – similar to how a kettle boils water. This steam drives turbines to generate electricity for the UK – Hinkley Point C, just one power station, will power 3 million homes. One of the roadmap workshops looked at how this metal cladding behaves during operation, for example due to interactions with radiation and high temperature water flowing between the fuel rods. Understanding how the material properties change with time is essential to meeting the Prime Minister’s recent commitment to extend the life of our existing nuclear power stations. UKNNL’s work in areas such as post-irradiation examination of fuel is vital to achieving this goal.

The roadmap will provide a clear, coordinated approach to UK fission materials research and development, directly supporting the government’s mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower and achieve net zero by 2050. This collaborative project will help guide critical decisions about fission materials research, development and innovation across four key theme areas: Structural Materials, Fuels and Cladding, Irradiation Damage and Disposability.

The final roadmap, scheduled for publication in summer 2026, will be shared with government departments and funding organisations, providing science-based evidence needed for influencing vital policy and investment decisions that underpin the UK’s nuclear ambitions. The development of the roadmap clearly demonstrates how UKNNL are leading the way in becoming government’s lead civil technical and strategic advisor for nuclear fuels and materials.

A collaborative approach

Dr Paul Styman from UKNNL, who presented the roadmap’s development at the Henry Royce Institute Conference in September, explained:

“This collaborative effort brings together some of the brightest minds across our nuclear sector, from industry, academia and national laboratories to tackle the materials challenges we face.

“By working together, we’re creating a clear pathway that will help secure the safe operation of our current reactors, enable the deployment of next-generation nuclear technology, and support the growth of UK industry – all essential to delivering affordable, clean energy for families and businesses across the UK.”

Strong engagement so far
The project has already seen remarkable engagement, with 87 experts from 33 institutions participating in 12 online workshops. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants praising the collaborative approach with delegates reporting “Glad this kind of work is being done, I want to transfer these workshops into my own institution” and “Good use of collaborative tools to get engagement from stakeholders.”

Upcoming opportunities
An in-person workshop will take place on 12-13 January 2026 at the Royce Hub Building in Manchester covering the cross-cutting themes that underpin materials research and innovation.  This two-day workshop will delve in to Skills, Qualification, Infrastructure, Policy, Characterisation & Modelling. 

Whether you prefer to attend in person or join online, there are still opportunities to contribute your expertise and help shape the future of fission materials research in the UK.

Register at: Fission Roadmap Online Form – United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory

Join us in creating a clear pathway that will help secure the safe operation of our current reactors, enable the deployment of next-generation nuclear technology, and support the growth of UK industry – all essential to delivering affordable, clean energy for families and businesses across the UK.