Client: Innovate UK
Timeframe: Phase 1: March – May 2021, Phase 2: September 2021 – December 2022
Quality Requirement: N/A
Overview: : In response to the UK’s pressing need for safe, efficient nuclear waste management, Innovate UK, in partnership with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield Ltd, and Magnox Ltd, launched the “Sort and Segregate Nuclear Waste” innovation competition.
The goal: Develop a fully integrated, autonomous robotic system to sort and segregate radioactive waste generated by nuclear decommissioning, delivering cost savings, safety improvements, and operational efficiency.
Barrnon Limited rose to the challenge, winning to the competition by delivering BLISSS (Barrnon Limited Integrated Sort and Segregate System) – an AI-powered, platform-agnostic robotic system designed to revolutionize nuclear waste handling.
Scalable, modular system ready for wider nuclear decommissioning adoption
Demonstrated TRL6 performance in real-world waste sorting
Potential to Reduce human exposure to radiation through remote, autonomous handling
Compliant, optimized packaging that aligns with Waste Acceptance Criteria
Contract Value: £1.1 million
