My group project experience…

During a time of great uncertainty, I find great solace working on something where my passion is fulfilled. Covid-19 has had an adverse impact on all of our lives, but I am here to share some of the best memories I had during these times as well.

During my MSc in Energy Systems and Thermal Processes (ESTP) at Cranfield University for our group project, I had the privilege to work on one of the most exciting topics in the nuclear energy industry – Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Our research was based on analysing current SMR technology and investigating ways to improve the thermal efficiency of the power cycles, by incorporating supercritical CO2 as the working fluid. Also, we wanted to go a step further and allow for more renewable energy integration within the mix, and hence, an idea to incorporate thermal energy storage with the nuclear reactor arose, to facilitate flexibility of the nuclear reactor electrical output and work along with renewables according to the demand required.

Our team consisted of four students from the ESTP course, including myself, and two PhDs from Cranfield University. They served as the supervisors of our project and were very helpful along the journey to complete our work successfully.

After our initial proposal and working on some numbers, we pitched the idea to Rolls-Royce UK they agreed to be a part of the supervisory team and sponsor the project. This was one of the most exciting moments of my career, since working with experts from Rolls-Royce, Cranfield University and The Open University together, was a great opportunity to acquire a wealth of knowledge and establish contacts too, from an industrial as well as an academic perspective.

As students, we learnt so much throughout our project and had amazing discussions with the experts from Rolls-Royce, and academics about the current and future state of the nuclear energy industry. Our meetings were all online, since our team now consisted of an international array of experts from various nationalities, working from different places on a common goal. Nevertheless, the quality of work and technical expertise that was imparted during those two months were one of the best I have ever experienced in my life. I remember one particular day after our group project, when I was browsing through news articles and saw an excerpt about Rolls-Royce and their future plans about SMR technology. To know that your work is part of one among the most exciting prospects of technology in the world and to see it being implemented practically, was one of the happiest moments of my life.

I had chosen to pursue this path of clean energy due to my passion to give back something to this beautiful world of ours, and not pollute it further in the name of human intervention. I wanted to play an active, technical role in fighting climate change and work on innovating some of the best and most exciting renewable and low-carbon energy solutions in the world. After a long time, I feel I am actually on that path and living my dreams, as I pursue my heart’s desire and passion. I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who was part of this project, my fellow teammates, supervisors at Cranfield and all other industrial and academic experts who were part of this wonderful journey.