magnox-n

Magnox North has had four ideas short listed as finalists in the Ideas UK ‘Idea of the Year’ competition 2009

 

Magnox North – who manage five of the first generation of nuclear power stations on behalf of the UK Government’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) – submitted a series of innovations which have been implemented to improve safe delivery in electricity generation and decommissioning.

 

All these ideas were developed through the company’s own suggestion scheme, i4 (Inspire, Imagine, Innovate, Implement), which was introduced by EnergySolutions – Magnox North’s parent body organisation.

 

The four short listed ideas are:

  • Reducing the operating temperature of Wylfa Power Station’s reactors – reducing outage length, reducing maintenance costs, extending plant life and resulting in over £6m worth of additional electricity.

 

  • Use of mobile shielding to minimise exposure of Magnox North Operations staff to radiation

 

  • Using an innovative approach to repairing plant whilst Oldbury Power Station was still operational – avoiding the need to shut-down and saving £3.5m

 

  • Revisiting the design of equipment being used to remove contaminated concrete – extending the operational life of the equipment and reducing the overall length of the project.

 

The ‘Idea of the Year’ competition has been running for over 20 years and was established to recognise and reward innovation and creativity at work. Magnox North’s ideas were selected from 94 submissions by companies from across the world and will be judged alongside finalists including: The MoD, Lloyds TSB and BT.

 

Alan Parker, Chief Operating Officer for EnergySolutions International Group, said: “Innovation is essential to reaching our goal of safe delivery and to providing value to the UK taxpayer.”

 

“EnergySolutions’ own i4 innovations scheme has seen outstanding results in the past few years and has generated some fantastic ideas which have made a massive positive impact on our business. Being recognised amongst the best innovators in the UK shows that we have a real eye for opportunity.”

 

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Chester on the 11th – 12th November 2009.