NUCLEAR power stations could be switched on and off like a light bulb, a Huddersfield professor believes.

Prof Robert Cywinski is working on the extraordinary scientific goal which could also lead to major developments in the treatment of tumours and cancers.

If his research work is successful, it could lead to a new, safe, affordable and environmentally-beneficial form of energy.

The Professor of Applied Sciences at the Huddersfield University is embarking on a calculation and computer simulations with colleagues and physics experts that has the potential to be of global significance.

His research revolves around the use of accelerators and the fuel thorium, as opposed to plutonium or uranium.

Prof Cywinski said: “The core accelerators are seen as a tool so we are using that tool to make an accelerator in the right shape and size so it is effective for thing’s that they were never designed for in the first place.

“By the end of this year we will know whether it works, if it doesn’t we’ll know what to do to make it work then look at the next phase.

“In terms of having a fully working power station with this technology it could be 15 years – which isn’t that long considering it takes eight years to build a conventional power station.

“Medically speaking, it could be five or six years down the line until we have a working facility.”

Instead of uranium or plutonium, the team of scientists are working with thorium to fuel the accelerator.

This area of study is the way that sub-atomic particles, especially neutrons, can be used to probe deep inside materials in order to analyse their structure.

But first the neutrons have to be produced – either by nuclear reactor or by a process called spallation, which uses acceleration technology to aim a high energy beam of protons at a heavy metal target from which the neutrons are chipped.

The advantage to the idea is that it would be less costly and much smaller than conventional accelerators.

The professor added: “My vision is that it would do away with plutonium altogether.

“It will also not build up a nuclear legacy which will survive for tens of thousands of years like we have.

“The public are generally wary of nuclear power – I don’t subscribe to that wariness myself.

“But this is about providing an alternative way of producing low carbon energy.”

With 20% of the UK’s electricity nuclear-produced, it will mean that a new one gig watt power station would have to be built every day to keep up with the modern demand for electricity.

Medically, the accelerator could make sure the energy is deposited right in the tumour.

The benefit is that the protons used would be less destructive than gamma and X-rays used in radiation therapy and can directly target delicate organs near the spine or brain.

If the prototype works, it could be five to 10 years before they commit to building a facility in Europe.

His work will continue after Huddersfield University secured a share (£500,000) of Euros5.5million to carry out preparatory work on the project.