Nuclear energy

We develop nuclear fuels that can withstand sever accident conditions for longer. We’re developing leading uranium silicide and uranium nitride ATF in close collaboration with industry partners and national labs. This is achieved using state-of-the-art in-situ neutron diffraction and first principles modelling.  

We’re also exploring a new, innovative material: uranium diboride. UB₂ is currently used as an absorber but has been overlooked as a fuel, due to the neutron poisoning effect of B-11. Yet, our research suggests that it may in fact be employed as a future fuel. 

We’re working with industry partners in Europe and the United States to develop improved Zr alloys. This work has lead to improved economics and higher safety margins for carbon-free nuclear power. Zirconium cladding alloys currently used on nuclear reactors exhibit a unique combination of mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and neutron transparency. However, their ability to withstand prolonged exposure to in-reactor conditions limits fuel use in the reactor. 

In the emerging area of high entropy alloys, we collaborate with researchers in the Advanced Manufacturing, Materials and Structures group to explore this exciting new class of alloy for nuclear applications. One area seeing recent resurgence is direct conversion of beta radiation to electrical power, so-called betavoltaics. Objectives of this research are modelling radiation transport through novel device architectures and improving radiation tolerance of semiconductors.  

The technology offers an attractive route for recycling or nuclear ‘waste’ into functional products, with widespread terrestrial applications as well. 

We are also working closely with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) on projects that support Australia’s participation in the Generation IV International Forum, an international framework for co-operation in research and development for the next generation of nuclear energy systems. Our research focusses on predicting the performance of structural materials that are needed to meet the challenges of next generation reactors, including nickel-based superalloys, nuclear graphite, and carbon-carbon composites.  

We work closely with Fusion companies to accelerate the development of clean, reliable and abundant fusion energy. Our work on ultra-high temperature ceramics is demonstrating their use as shielding for sensitive superconducting magnets from the high-energy radiation of the fusion plasma. We are also the home of the AtomCraft VIP, which aims to build the world’s first fusion device entirely designed, constructed and operated by students.

UNSW’s nuclear engineering program is internationally recognised, having been one of only 20 universities globally invited to be a founding member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science, Technology and Policy. 

UNSW is contributing to this Global Forum via working groups on ‘Rethinking the Relationship between Nuclear Energy and Society’ and the ‘Future of Nuclear Engineering Education.’ The outcomes of this work will be shared with policymakers in the governments of OECD and NEA member countries.

We’re part of a major project consortium of industry and academic partners in Europe and the United States, working to develop the design and the safety case for fast-spectrum, lead-cooled test reactor. The reactor will be designed and built by 2030 in Oskarshamn, Sweden. The UNSW team is contributing to testing and validation of candidate fuel materials for the fast reactor system. Lead cooled fast reactors offer improved resource utilization and accident resilience compared to conventional light water-cooled technology. 

We work with UNSW researchers in ACSER (Australian Centre Space Engineering Research) and SPREE (School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering) developing novel space power cells based on betavoltaics. Nuclear power systems are  attractive for certain applications in space, such as delivering power in shadowed locations, under low light or operating far from the sun.   

One area seeing recent resurgence is direct conversion of beta radiation to electrical power, so-called betavoltaics. Objectives of this research are modelling radiation transport through novel device architectures and improving radiation tolerance of semiconductors.  

The technology offers an attractive route for recycling or nuclear ‘waste’ into functional products, with widespread terrestrial applications as well. 

Advanced and small modular reactors (SMR) offer competitive advantages over conventional gigawatt power plants in terms of deployment rate, built cost, servicing remote or isolated grids. They can also integrate in electricity grids with high penetration of intermittent renewable energy like solar and wind. The combined deployment of renewable and nuclear power is the most promising pathway for deep decarbonization of the energy sector. We’re investigating how SMR technologies will complement renewable energy in electricity grids. 

Our research group developed SLUMBAT - the first blockchain demo for nuclear materials accounting, an integral part of nuclear safeguards. Nuclear Safeguards are measures put in place by the international community to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and our system is the most innovative solution for nuclear safeguards. With our partners at Stimson Center and Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, we have built SLAFKA, the first prototype of this technology. Further research and development in this area is ongoing. 

For decades, the nuclear industry has led the way in telemanipulation and remote handling of hazardous materials.  Operator vision systems have lagged comparatively behind and still use either thick windows or ordinary video feed to control advanced robotic handling tools. We’re closing this gap by developing visual telepresence through a combination of virtual reality and machine learning so that nuclear operators can immersive control experience working condition by telepresence and keep the ‘human in the loop’ for maximum flexibility while still working safely.