Driving Innovation and Safety in Nuclear Decommissioning

At one of the most complex and regulated nuclear sites in the world, Jacobs is proud to help deliver engineering and environmental excellence that supports the U.K.’s nuclear decommissioning mission.

For over two decades, we have worked closely with Sellafield and the broader supply chain to support nuclear decommissioning, waste management and environmental stewardship. Our team is bringing deep technical expertise in engineering, safety and sustainability across a wide range of programs at Sellafield.

Navigating risk in a regulated world 

Covering just two square miles in Cumbria, England, the Sellafield site contains more than 1,000 buildings—about 200 of which house significant nuclear inventory—making it one of the most technically demanding and hazardous environments in Western Europe. Its operations consume large amounts of energy, putting carbon management at the center of its strategic priorities. As one of the U.K.’s most regulated sites, any activity conducted at Sellafield requires precision, innovation and an uncompromising commitment to safety.

Smart solutions for a low-carbon tomorrow 

At Sellafield, we work across the full project lifecycle—from design and construction through operations and decommissioning—while navigating complex stakeholder needs, accelerating delivery and maximizing value for the U.K. taxpayer. 

For over 20 years, we have supported Sellafield with a wide range of environmental and technical services, including environmental permitting and consenting, ecology, architecture, transportation, land quality, rail assessments, geographic information systems (GIS), topographic surveys and geotechnical expertise.

In recent years, our focus has increasingly turned to carbon management. We have worked closely with Sellafield to understand and measure its carbon impact, helping to shape a more sustainable future for the U.K.’s civil nuclear sector.  

Between 2021 and 2024, we supported our client, Sellafield Ltd., in calculating its annual carbon footprint to meet Government requirements under the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) and the U.K. Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Our team reviewed and refined the carbon calculation process to make it more accurate, transparent and easier to audit. We created a clear, written record of the methodology used, so that every step could be justified and repeated with confidence.

In close collaboration with Sellafield, we updated the digital tools used to evaluate carbon emissions across the entire project lifecycle. These tools are now updated every year to reflect the latest best practices, industry standards and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority guidance.

One of the biggest challenges in carbon management is understanding indirect emissions—known as Scope 3—which come from materials purchased, transport, supply chain activities and more. These emissions are often much larger than direct emissions and harder to track. We helped Sellafield expand its monitoring tools to capture more Scope 3 data than ever before, giving the organization a clearer picture of its environmental impact and helping identify where carbon reduction is possible, while also forecasting the financial implications of potential interventions.

Our long-standing relationship with this client has enabled us to stay ahead of regulatory requirements and deliver forward-thinking, practical solutions. By combining our technical expertise with globally recognized standards such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and U.K. ETS, we are helping to integrate carbon management into the heart of Sellafield’s operations, resulting in a safer, cleaner and more sustainable approach to nuclear decommissioning.