Chancellor and Energy Secretary visit Imperial

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves MP and Secretary of State for Energy Security & Net Zero Ed Miliband MP toured the Department of Materials.

Hosted by President Professor Hugh Brady, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) Professor Mary Ryan and Vice-President (Strategic Engagement and Communications) Amanda Wolthuizen, Ms Reeves and Mr Miliband visited Imperial’s Centre for Cryo Microscopy of Materials, a unique facility in the UK for the characterisation of environmentally-sensitive materials.

The visit coincided with the UK Government’s announcement that Sizewell C, a new nuclear fission power station, has received final approval for construction and development. The government will be the largest equity stakeholder in the new nuclear power station, with investment from a number of private shareholders including La Caisse, Centrica, EDF and Amber Infrastructure.

Led by Professor Finn Giuliani, Professor of Structural Ceramics in the Department of Materials, Ms Reeves and Mr Miliband heard about how Imperial researchers are leading the development and characterisation of the next generation of materials for the net-zero energy transition. This includes analysis of the interactions of cladding materials in a nuclear fission reactor and the products of fission reactions, which causes reductions in durability of reactors. By understanding the science behind these interactions, researchers can understand how to develop new and more durable materials with enhanced properties.

“The Centre for Cryo Microscopy of Materials provides Imperial with unrivalled abilities in characterisation of new innovative materials. From new battery and energy systems, to new biological materials, we are driving forward the design and functionality of new materials capable of solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges”. Professor Finn Giuilani

The Department’s cutting-edge Centre for Cryo Microscopy of Materials allows researchers to characterise their new compounds and materials at a nano-scale and under a vacuum in order to assess the structure and composition of materials. Critically, samples in the Centre can be transferred between characterisation machines under the same vacuum, helping to significantly increase the speed of characterisation but also in reliability of measurements. Imperial’s materials research also includes the development of new metallic compounds that can enable the development of ‘tokamak’ nuclear fusion reactors, the current front-runner in the search for making nuclear fusion a viable method for energy generation.

“Nuclear power can play a pivotal role in meeting the UK’s ambitions for net-zero. Using a systems approach, new fission plants will work with renewables to help deliver low-carbon energy generation for the future”. Professor Sir Robin Grimes BCH Steele Chair in Energy Materials

At the 2025 Comprehensive Spending Review, the government announced £2.5bn of funding for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme with the ambition to create the worlds-first nuclear fusion prototype plant. The materials research at Imperial is helping to develop viable materials that are capable of neutron shielding – capable of absorbing the high-energy neutrons produced during a fusion reaction. This is incredibly important for protecting the reactor and its components and greatly increases the safety of such reactors.

Following the tour of the Centre, the Chancellor chaired a roundtable discussion with a range of investors and key stakeholders in the nuclear energy industry.

Photography credit: Simon Walker/HMT.