Update on the Sellafield HAWTT Programme
Since being appointed in Q4 2021 to support the Higher Active Waste Thermal Treatment (HAWTT) programme, good progress has been made with the joint venture teams commissioned to deliver the objectives of Tranche 1 (PCM) and Tranche 2 (sludge).
To recap, in its strategy published in March 2021, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) committed to “continue to drive technology development to help deliver a range of suitable treatment routes that enable the effective management of the variety of wastes in our inventory” and would be leading industry groups to “coordinate waste treatment opportunities for thermal treatment technologies, encapsulation techniques and the management of problematic radioactive wastes.”
Thermal treatment is a process where high temperatures are applied to waste which destroys reactive components and reduces overall volumes, with a stable waste form being the end product.
Collaboration and Team Coaching are Key
Acorn’s Keith Longney: “The HAWTT programme has gone through an important step during the spring with technological providers being brought on-board.”
“What has been impressive is that the length of time to award these contracts has been significantly reduced which is something of a success story for Sellafield in its own right.”
“Appointing these organisations, is something which would normally have taken an exhaustive period of time, but this has been foreshortened whilst still upholding the correct and appropriate procurement and evaluation assessments.”
“Now these technological providers have been contracted and are under the ‘umbrella’ of the HAWTT programme, there are clear signs that tangible progress can be made.”
There are four ‘tranches’ to the HAWTT programme, each with a different focus (PCM, sludge etc) and, as you would expect, contracts have been awarded to suitable organisations best placed to deliver them including NSG, Red Engineering, Atkins and Cavendish Nuclear.
“Bringing these different organisations together is complex and significant – all are undeniably highly capable, experienced and qualified, but they are all from different working cultures.” Says Keith. “We have been conducting interviews to understand these cultures and mitigate any barriers which may have the potential to hinder progress.”
“When sub-contractors and partners in these joint ventures are included, the number of organisations involved in each tranche amounts to between four and seven different suppliers and it’s really intriguing how innovation is being brought into the programme through their different backgrounds and specialisms.”
“We see the larger organisations drawing on their collective knowledge and extensive experience in nuclear and also leveraging the unique skills and agility of smaller businesses and SMEs who, in some instances, are relatively new to the nuclear arena.”
Acorn has been working with the collaborations involved in Tranche 1 and Tranche 2, initiating a senior lead team for each and measuring performance on an ongoing basis, both at team and wider collaboration level.
The next team coaching activities are due over summer and, now that the technological provider has been appointed and come on-board, the pressure is on with the scope of delivery being re-defined and new timescales published.
Keith concludes: “There are enough technological challenges facing HAWTT in the years ahead and having a focused collaborative team working cohesively towards the same shared objectives will help ensure the success of this programme at the Sellafield site, and for the role of thermal treatment of waste in the wider NDA strategy.”