Leveraging AGR know-how for AMR success

Nuclear Operations is funding UK R&D to preserve Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) niche skills by applying them to Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) opportunities - reducing skills shortage risks, enabling commercial opportunities and supporting AGR life extension into the 2030s.

In a strategic move to future-proof our nuclear expertise to support the AGRs, we are now using Nuclear Operations R&D funding, previously known as the Net Zero Development fund, to focus on securing niche skills developed through AGR operations by applying them to AMR technologies. This will focus on High-Temperature Gas Reactors (HTGRs), which share many technical challenges with AGRs. By aligning AGR capabilities with AMR development, we’re not only opening new commercial opportunities for EDF but also protecting the specialist knowledge needed to support AGRs through their end-of-life phase.

A shrinking pool of skills
One of the biggest challenges in extending AGR life into the 2030s is the shrinking pool of skilled people. As operations wind down, fewer people are directly involved, making it harder to justify continued investment in these skills. However, by leveraging external R&D funding linked to AMRs, we can maintain and evolve these capabilities without relying solely on operational budgets - reducing both financial and technical risk to the Nuclear Operations business.

Next generation nuclear technologies
This approach is especially timely given the recent announcement that Centrica is exploring support for X-energy’s deployment at EDF’s Hartlepool site. EDF remains uniquely positioned with the regulatory experience and AGR know-how to lead this transition. The potential for
collaborative R&D, innovation and business growth is significant. This initiative not only
strengthens our position in next-generation nuclear technologies but also ensures we remain
capable of safely and efficiently managing AGRs to the end of their operational lives.