The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has granted formal consent to EDF Energy’s project to decommission the Hinkley Point B NPP in Somerset. This followed a public consultation and detailed assessment by ONR specialist inspectors of EDF’s environmental statement and Habitats Regulations Assessment.
The environmental statement included a detailed environmental impact assessment for the proposed decommissioning project, along with mitigation measures designed to prevent or reduce any significant adverse environmental impacts.
ONR said it is “satisfied that the environmental statement proposes adequate mitigation measures to address the adverse environmental impacts of the decommissioning project and considers the statement to be complete, of the right quality, and in line with relevant good practice”.
Dan Hasted, ONR Director of Regulation – Operating Facilities Directorate, said: “After careful assessment and public consultation, we are satisfied that EDF’s decommissioning plans for Hinkley Point B include appropriate measures to protect people and the environment. We will continue to proportionately regulate the Hinkley Point B site throughout the decommissioning phase to ensure the licensee complies with applicable legislation to safeguard workers and the public.”
Hinkley Point B was the first advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) to generate electricity for the UK’s National Grid, with unit B2 beginning operations in February 1976 and B1 in October 1976. The 660 MWe units ceased power generation permanently in August 2022, after 46 years of service. Since then, both reactors at the site have been defueled in advance of the site moving into its decommissioning phase. This will involve removing most buildings and plant, while modifying the reactor buildings into a Safestore structure to maintain safety during a 70-year quiescence period before final site clearance.
The nuclear site will transfer from EDF to Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) in due course, a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. NRS will decommission the site, which will involve dismantling and demolishing the plant and buildings as well site clearance and restoration. Currently, NRS is responsible for safely decommissioning 13 sites across the UK, including the first generation of nuclear and research sites.
Four AGR plants are still in operation. Hartlepool and Heysham 1 are currently expected to operate until March 2026 and March 2027, respectively. Heysham 2 and Torness are currently due to generate until March 2030. As well as Hinkley Point B, Hunterston B and Dungeness B have been closed.
