As the UK’s lead civil national laboratory for nuclear fission, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) will be working more closely with Government to drive forward the nation’s nuclear ambitions, supporting its mission to become a clean energy superpower and accelerate to net zero. Our closer alignment will be visible through our renaming as the United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) and our adoption of His Majesty’s Government’s Royal Coat of Arms.
Our mission is to enable and deliver nuclear outcomes for Government, and to support the growth of the entire UK nuclear sector. This means we will:
- Be a custodian of national capabilities and infrastructure critical for national and energy security
- Become Government’s lead civil technical and strategic advisor for nuclear fuels and nuclear materials
- Carry out research to continue securing the safe operation of nuclear plants domestically and internationally
- Deliver practical nuclear research and enable decommissioning programmes
- Provide expertise and facilities to be a platform for the private sector to accelerate the deployment of technology to market
- Champion and nurture advanced nuclear skills
Our purpose remains the same: Nuclear Science to Benefit Society.
Our new direction follows a Strategic Review of NNL by the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
NNL’s impact in creating, sustaining and strengthening vital nuclear skills and capabilities is highlighted by the Review, which says “NNL is deeply valued by the sector, with its scientific capability being repeatedly praised as world leading. The laboratory and its staff should be commended for the exemplary work it has delivered since its creation 16 years ago, and the substantial effort that went into ensuring the UK retained a national nuclear laboratory and its associated capabilities.”
The Review was undertaken in the context of rapid growth of the UK’s nuclear ambitions. It is essential that we evolve in step with these so that Government can continue to rely on its laboratory working for the nation. The Review outlines how we can serve UK Government and, by extension, UK society, across all relevant areas of policy more easily and more efficiently.
Prof Paul Howarth, CEO of UKNNL said:
“With this Review in place, our mission is clearer than ever and we welcome its publication. We will be rising to the privileged position of being the UK Government’s lead civil National Nuclear Laboratory, focusing on how and where we add the greatest value for customers and wider UK society.
“I would like to thank colleagues at NNL, and officials at DESNZ and across Government for their significant work towards this Review, which ensures we can serve UK Government across all relevant areas of policy more easily and more efficiently.
“The Review is unequivocal about the value NNL has delivered and enabled over many years and the pivotal role we have played in securing the future of the industry. It has identified specific opportunities for improvement which we will address in order to achieve peak performance in the future.
“With the support and partnership of our key stakeholders – and greater certainty and clarity about the position of UK nuclear policy – we can grow and adapt with confidence.”
Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Lord Hunt said:
“We want to maximise the huge potential of our world-class research facilities to drive nuclear innovation, supporting our mission to become a clean energy superpower, with a new era of clean electricity.
“The UK National Nuclear Laboratory will play an essential role in supporting the UK’s nuclear programme – from the fuels we use to power reactors of the future, to safe and effective decommissioning of our nuclear legacy.”
Read more about the Strategic Review at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-nuclear-laboratory-strategic-review
