About

Hosted by the British Carbon Group, this event will explore the technical and scientific aspects of carbon research with the potential to be applied to nuclear decommissioning. There is an opportunity for UK researchers to play a key role in emergent technologies, especially those that could be transferred from other industries and applications.

Whilst a baseline of deep geological disposal for graphite is well established for England and Wales, a facility will not be available for reactor wastes until at least the 2050s. Opportunities to sustainably manage this form of carbon to avoid prolonged and potentially expensive interim storage are being investigated. Nearly 100,000Te of graphite from more than 40 reactors will need to be managed in the UK over the next century and innovation is encouraged to meet key challenges related to this material, particularly the presence of long-lived radionuclides (e.g. C-14, Cl-36).

Contributions are also sought that are relevant to research into management of graphite that may be utilised in future reactor designs to minimise the potential for large amounts of legacy material being generated in the decades to come.

Topics will include carbon volume reduction (thermal, chemical and physical), separation and potential re-use of radionuclides (in radiopharmaceuticals, agriculture, batteries, etc.), novel graphite retrieval methods from inside reactors, and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage.

This event is one of a series supported by Nuclear Restoration Services during 2025 to explore innovative solutions from the UK Carbon Industry and potential international collaborators.