EDF has opened a competition to find ways of inspecting and monitoring the firm’s nuclear and offshore wind sites.

Alongside Innovate UK, it is offering funding up to £10,000 to successful projects.

The competition, backed by the government, aims to find solutions to two challenges EDF’s nuclear and offshore wind sites are facing.

The first one is the inspection of high-risk components in EDF’s 14 advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactors.

They provide around 18% of the UK’s electricity. EDF has designed the programme to find out how to extend the lifetime of these reactors in a safe and cost-effective way.

The second challenge is aimed at identifying long term solutions for monitoring and controlling corrosion of offshore wind monopile foundations.

Internal corrosion behaviour for offshore wind farm monopile foundations is unique in these kind of sites, that’s why it needs novel inspection and monitoring solutions, EDF stated.

These will ensure that operators can maintain the foundation structural integrity in its 25-year lifetime.

The competition is open to businesses and consortia until the 28th of September.

Earlier this month, new figures from DECC revealed the estimated cost of the Hinkley Point C project over its lifetime could reach £37 billion.