White nuclear reactor dome and beige building against a blue sky

Owner's Engineering in Nuclear Energy (OE)

Owner’s Engineering for the entire life cycle of nuclear power plants

As part of our core energy services, on which Owner’s Engineering is regarded as a key element of our offering, AFRY supports the entire life cycle of nuclear power plants, beginning with concept, planning, feasibility studies, technology assessments, site selections, site investigations and evaluations through construction and commissioning to support of operation, maintenance, plant upgrades, plant decommissioning and waste management.

AFRY is one of the few Engineering and Consulting companies that has such a broad range of expertise and skillsets under one roof, and this is part of our added value. We possess the necessary technological intimate knowledge and disciplines required to lead large-scale as well as small-scale (modular) nuclear power plant projects to a successful completion, e.g. Project Management, Nuclear, Mechanical, Electrical Systems, Process, I&C, Civil as well as Safety Engineering.

Grafenrheinfeld cooling towers and transmission lines

Experience and Benefits of AFRY as Owner's Engineer

What is AFRY's OE experience in nuclear power? Arrow pointing right
  • AFRY has experience with all reactor technologies available on the market. We understand the differences and principles that differentiate the different reactor suppliers to be considered, including Small Modular reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR). Furthermore AFRY, through the direct involvement with all the different technology suppliers understand the difference in design and can pinpoint the feasibility and project implementation risks associated to all the different technologies considered in a specific country.
  • AFRY offers nuclear engineering teams in Switzerland, UK, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Sweden. Furthermore, we have a substantial international presence with experienced engineers in Africa, Middle East and beyond.
  • AFRY can offer consultancy and knowledge transfer from other sectors and competence areas such as thermal energy, infrastructure and other industries, which in our opinion complements our Nuclear offering by bringing an alternative point of view to our business, thus creating diversity as one of our core competences.
  • Owing to our strong Code of Conduct, Transparency and Sustainability drive, we are proud to affirm that AFRY is an independent and neutral Engineering and Consulting firm, with no vetted interests on any of the possible technological choices being considered. As such, we offer unbiased advice, that has only the Client’s best interest in mind.
  • AFRY has experience and capability to support the development of nuclear energy production at all stages leading to operational support.
Engineers consulting in nuclear charging hall
What are the benefits of AFRY's OE services? Arrow pointing right

The benefits we bring to the Project Owner and the Project as an Independent Engineering Consultant are even more important for a nuclear energy project, compared to conventional energy projects:

  • We support developers, owners, and financiers in their evaluation of technologies and projects for debt, equity investment, and acquisition or divestiture. Experience with a broad spectrum of technologies and all aspects of project development and operation means we have the capacity to examine virtually any asset, operating company, or portfolio of projects. With more than 70 years of involvement in independent nuclear power production, AFRY has a deep understanding of the technical, contract, environmental compliance, construction, and operations and maintenance issues that drive project success.
  • We typically support either the Owner or the Regulator in a Country. In order to avoid a conflict of interest we stay with either the Owner or the Regulator concerning our support.
  • Newcomer countries are initially advised by IAEA setting up their nuclear new build programs. Our services complement such (mandatory) support by IAEA enabling the newcomer country to set up feasible roadmap and mapping the real relevant risks, based on our on-hand long standing experience.
  • Certain countries have opted to procure the services of EPCs at an early stage, rather than an independent consultant. One should be aware of the risks connected to this approach such as the potential shortfall in important aspects of the initial phase works (overall strategy, roadmap, risk map, Owner’s and Countries requirements and preferences and real cost).
  • Most projects go through peaks and troughs of workload, and the requirements of the project may vary from one stage to the next. Using a consultancy helps you bring in the resource you need, at the time you need it and without the timescale often associated with full time hiring.
  • Equally, if a consultant is used on a longer term basis you’ll start to experience many of the benefits of a full time employee as the consultant will gain an in-depth knowledge of your organization and project. If that person is available the next time you need them, they’ll be up to speed straight away. They can also pass on their expertise to your own team, either informally by osmosis as the project progresses, or formally as part of a bespoke in-house training program.
  • Consultancy work packages allow scarce, highly experienced resource with specific knowledge/skills to be used effectively across several parallel strands of technical activity with support from competent and skilled engineers, whilst keeping focused accountability for work package outputs. This ensures higher quality, timely output across a broader set of tasks than is possible with contracted manpower of similar levels of knowledge and experience – even should they be available.
  • Deployed consultants are expected to maintain contact with their company and are encouraged to bring the full strength of the consultancy team to bear. So rather than getting one contractor, working as a sole trader or single person limited company, you can tap into the breadth of expertise across a whole consultancy through one or more of their team working on your project. This reach back capability can be informal, for ad-hoc advice, or a fuller service with defined levels of additional support available when required.
  • Engineering consultants can also provide on-the-job and in-house training to staff to both delivery outputs and up skill the full time employed engineers. This knowledge transfer can be informal or a defined output in its own right and adds longer term value to even a fixed term contract.
Detail view of uranium fuel element head
What is the future of AFRY's nuclear OE services? Arrow pointing right

AFRY has valuable recent and ongoing experience of supporting new nuclear power plant projects for both newcomer countries and in countries with an established nuclear energy industry. As such we are fully conversant with the modern standards that are expected of the international community. Our work as Owner's Engineer in this area for designs of Generation III/III+ nuclear reactors shows that we are well suited to such matters relating to new nuclear build and we are an active player in the Small Modular Reactor and Advanced Modular Reactor markets, supporting various clients with their new nuclear programs.

Below is a selection of relevant services we typically provide in new build projects:

  • Roadmap and Feasibility Study
  • Site selection, evaluation and characterization (Preparation or Review)
  • Feasibility studies, optioneering and Selection of technology
  • Design review and preparation (Concept, Basic and Detail)
    - Design development (Client’s scope) and Integration with EPC design (EPC scope)
  • Construction, cost and human resource planning
  • Regional and local Supply Chain evaluation and qualification
  • Assessment of design, safety and licensing documents
  • Fuel cycle considerations (including interim storage, final repository, re-processing, «lease» of fuel etc.)
  • Tender documents and EPC Contracting (Utility Requirements, Review, Independent cost evaluation, Tariffs etc.)
  • Contracting (EPC, Fuel, PPA etc.)
  • Procurement engineering
  • Due Diligence
  • Project Management and Management consulting
    - Requirements preparation and Management
    - Set-up of Client organization (structure, processes, QM, etc.)
    - Project set-up (Requirements, Quality, Standards, Risk Management etc.)
    - Support Interface with the EPC on all levels (technical, project, top level)
  • Independent training of Personnel
  • Support gaining acceptance in international nuclear community and IAEA
  • Supply Chain Management and Procurement logistic support
  • Construction management and Supervision
  • QMS/QC services
  • Support Plant start-up, commissioning and plant turnover acceptance test support.
Technician working on open turbine section
Turbine inspection
Dave Taylor - Head of Nuclear Safety and Design Section, UK
Dave Taylor
Head of Nuclear Safety and Design Section, UK

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Contact Dave Taylor

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