英國研發可持續石墨方案 應對進口依賴與 10 萬噸核廢料挑戰

曼徹斯特大學（University of Manchester）近日獲得一筆重大的科研資助，將牽頭啟動一項為期五年的新計畫，全面改變核能石墨的生命周期管理。該計畫名為 ENLIGHT（Enabling a Lifecycle Approach to Graphite for Advanced Modular Reactors），將與牛津大學、普利茅斯大學與拉夫堡大學合作推進。

The University of Manchester has recently secured a major research grant to lead a five-year program that will transform the lifecycle management of nuclear graphite. The project, titled ENLIGHT (Enabling a Lifecycle Approach to Graphite for Advanced Modular Reactors), will be carried out in collaboration with the University of Oxford, the University of Plymouth, and Loughborough University.

ENLIGHT 計畫的核心目標，是發展關鍵技術以支援新一代先進模組化反應爐（AMRs）的部署，同時應對英國兩大核能挑戰：確保國內可持續且自主的核能石墨供應鏈，以及尋找解決方案來處理日益增加的受輻照石墨廢料。

The central goal of ENLIGHT is to develop key technologies that support the deployment of next-generation Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) while addressing two major nuclear challenges facing the UK: securing a sustainable and sovereign domestic supply chain for nuclear graphite, and finding solutions for the growing stockpile of irradiated graphite waste.

The initiative has been awarded £8.2 million (approximately USD 11 million) in funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This will be supplemented by an additional £5 million in contributions from academic and industry partners.

該計畫獲得來自 英國研究與創新署（UKRI）旗下工程與物理科學研究委員會（EPSRC） 的 820 萬英鎊（約 1,100 萬美元）資助，再加上高等教育機構與產業合作夥伴的約 500 萬英鎊投入。

「核能石墨在先進反應爐的安全性與效率中扮演至關重要的角色，但目前英國仍完全依賴進口，」計畫首席研究員、曼徹斯特大學核能石墨講座教授 Abbie Jones 表示。「ENLIGHT 將為重建英國本土石墨供應鏈奠定基礎，並開發可持續回收與再利用受輻照石墨的方案，把廢料轉化為資源，既能減少浪費，也能強化能源安全，並助力實現淨零排放目標。」

“Nuclear graphite plays a critical role in the safety and efficiency of advanced reactors, but the UK is currently entirely reliant on imports,” said Professor Abbie Jones, Chair in Nuclear Graphite at the University of Manchester and Principal Investigator of the project. “ENLIGHT will lay the foundations for rebuilding the UK’s domestic graphite supply chain, while also developing sustainable processes to recycle and repurpose irradiated graphite - turning waste into a resource that reduces environmental impact, strengthens energy security, and supports net-zero goals.”

石墨是許多下一代 AMRs（如高溫氣冷反應爐與熔鹽反應爐）的關鍵組件，成本約占反應爐建造總額的三分之一。然而，目前英國對石墨的需求完全依靠進口。另一方面，處理受輻照石墨極具挑戰性。英國現有的先進氣冷反應爐（AGR）將在 2028 年前陸續退役，累計已存放超過 10 萬噸受輻照石墨。ENLIGHT 將探索全新途徑，實現舊材料的回收再利用，並生產適用於 AMRs 的高性能石墨。

英格蘭環境署（Environment Agency）高級顧問 Greg Black 表示：「環境署很高興成為 ENLIGHT 計畫的合作夥伴。該計畫聚焦的『可持續石墨』正好契合我們在監管與研發創新方面的核心關注。」

ENLIGHT 計畫將聚焦三大研究主題：

Graphite is a key component in many next-generation AMRs, including high-temperature gas-cooled reactors and molten salt reactors, accounting for roughly one-third of construction costs. At present, however, the UK relies entirely on imports to meet demand. Managing irradiated graphite also poses a significant challenge: with the UK’s fleet of Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors (AGRs) due to retire by 2028, more than 100,000 tonnes of irradiated graphite are already in storage. ENLIGHT will explore innovative pathways to recycle this material and produce high-performance graphite suitable for AMRs.

Greg Black, Senior Advisor at the Environment Agency, commented:

“The Agency is delighted to partner in the ENLIGHT program. Its focus on sustainable graphite aligns closely with our regulatory priorities and innovation agenda.”

The ENLIGHT project will concentrate on three main research themes:

It is estimated that these advances could save the UK up to £2 billion in future waste management costs, while reinforcing its position as a global leader in graphite research and innovation.

據估算，這些進展可為英國節省高達 20 億英鎊的未來廢料管理成本，並鞏固英國作為全球石墨研究與創新中心的領先地位。

曼徹斯特大學作為道爾頓核能研究所（Dalton Nuclear Institute）的所在地，亦是 Henry Royce 研究院的核心夥伴，擁有包括輻照材料實驗室與熔鹽核技術實驗室在內的先進研究設施，因而具備獨特優勢來領導 ENLIGHT。

牛津大學能源材料教授 James Marrow 將負責「石墨設計與選材」主題。他表示：「我們將聚焦於新型石墨材料的機械損傷研究，為未來先進反應爐石墨的設計與認證提供基礎。」

拉夫堡大學則將貢獻其先進的計算建模，用於模擬核能石墨在極端條件下的行為。該校材料建模高級講師 Kenny Jolley 博士指出：「這有助於預測關鍵反應爐部件的失效時機，並指導更堅固可靠的新材料設計，同時推進石墨的再利用與回收。」

As home to the Dalton Nuclear Institute and a core partner of the Henry Royce Institute, the University of Manchester possesses unique facilities - including irradiation laboratories and molten salt reactor test facilities - that place it in a strong position to lead ENLIGHT.

At the University of Oxford, Professor James Marrow, Professor of Energy Materials, will lead the “Graphite Design and Selection” theme. “We will be focusing on the mechanical degradation of new graphite materials, building the scientific basis for the design and certification of graphite in future advanced reactors,” he explained.

Loughborough University will contribute advanced computational modeling to simulate how nuclear graphite behaves under extreme conditions. Dr. Kenny Jolley, Senior Lecturer in Materials Modeling, noted: “This work will help predict failure points in critical reactor components, guide the design of stronger and more reliable new materials, and support pathways for recycling and reuse.”

普利茅斯大學則專注於多孔材料分析，這將在評估再利用石墨的性能與適用性上發揮重要作用。該校環境與分析化學講師 Katie Jones 博士表示：「這不僅是一項科學探索，更是針對核能的永續解決方案，將廢料轉化為資源，強化英國數十年的能源安全。」

At the University of Plymouth, researchers will focus on porous material analysis, which is essential for assessing the performance and suitability of recycled graphite. Dr. Katie Jones, Lecturer in Environmental and Analytical Chemistry, stated:

“This is not just a scientific investigation - it is about developing sustainable nuclear solutions that turn waste into a resource and strengthen the UK’s long-term energy security.”

她補充說：「這個跨校合作體現了一種真正循環且綠色的核能解決方案，旨在推動更清潔的能源轉型，並打破社會對傳統核能的一些刻板印象。」

She added: “This cross-institutional collaboration represents a truly circular and green approach to nuclear energy, helping drive a cleaner energy transition while also challenging some of the long-standing stereotypes about nuclear power.”

ENLIGHT 計畫同時將推動專業人才培育，擴展全國石墨研究社群，訓練新一代石墨科學家與工程師，為英國清潔能源的未來提供長遠支撐。

Alongside its research objectives, ENLIGHT will also invest in skills development, expanding the UK’s graphite research community and training a new generation of graphite scientists and engineers, thereby providing lasting support for the nation’s clean energy future.