Work in underway on the new home for Nuclear AMRC Midlands, a transformative £15 million nuclear research facility at Infinity Park Derby.
The 4,300 sq m research centre will advance manufacturing capabilities for sustainable energy using a range of pioneering technologies. With energy prices now at record levels, Nuclear AMRC Midlands will help guide the manufacturing industry through the energy transition and facilitate growth in a carbon-neutral economy.
The Nuclear AMRC Midlands facility is scheduled for completion by early 2023, and will work with companies of all sizes to help them win work in carbon-neutral supply chains as part of the global drive to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. It is located close to Rolls-Royce and within 20 minutes’ drive of global manufacturers Toyota, Alstom and JCB.
Development of the new Nuclear AMRC facility follows a successful pilot programme at Infinity Park’s Connect iHub, which is now home to 15 engineers and support staff. The new research site will support 35 collaborative research and development projects within the first five years, in high-value sectors such as aerospace, automotive and rail as well as nuclear and other low-carbon energy technologies.
Andrew Storer, CEO of the Nuclear AMRC said: “The new Nuclear AMRC Midlands facility will play a vital role in helping manufacturers seize the opportunities and tackle the challenges of the national transition to net zero emissions. A new generation of nuclear power is at the heart of the UK’s plans for a secure low-carbon energy mix, and we will work closely with companies of all sizes to help them join the supply chains for technologies such as small modular reactors, fusion power, and clean hydrogen generation.
“As the first High Value Manufacturing Catapult facility in the East Midlands, we will continue to work closely with local industry, academic and government partners to deliver sustainable growth for decades to come. The coming years will see increasing investment into clean energy and low-carbon technologies, and the region is well placed to capitalise on the opportunity thanks to its wealth of experience, innovation and engineering expertise. We have already helped dozens of Midlands-based manufacturers to develop their capabilities for the nuclear sector and want to work with even more to support their ambitions across other growing low-carbon sectors.”
Andrew Storer, Nuclear AMRC; Matt King, Stepnell; and Tom Goshawk, D2N2.
The government-backed Infinity Park Derby (IPD) collaboration includes the University of Derby, Derby City Council, Wilson Bowden, Peveril Securities, Harpur Crewe Estate and Rolls-Royce, with over £9 million from the D2N2 local enterprise partnership.
Mark Bielby of March Developments, development managers for IPD LLP, said: “Nuclear AMRC is a beacon of excellence and its involvement at Infinity Park Derby is projected to add £71 million to the local economy over five years. The shift to carbon neutral technologies is now an obvious priority for industry, and with the help of our construction partner Stepnell we will deliver a sustainably designed building which will lead by example.”
Elizabeth Fagan CBE, chair of D2N2, said: “Our region has a long and proud history of powering the nation. Our investments into Infinity Park and the Nuclear AMRC will play a critical role in developing clusters of highly productive and sustainable businesses that will drive the UK’s green revolution.
“Developing energy technologies, like nuclear, will play a crucial role in delivering the UK’s zero-carbon ambitions and ensuring we generate clean and sustainable energy for our future generations.”
