Press Release: UK HPR1000 nuclear reactor design intended for Bradwell B successfully moves into final phase of UK assessment process

IMMEDIATE ISSUE

UK NUCLEAR REGULATOR AGREES START OF THE FINAL ASSESSMENT PHASE FOR UK HPR1000 NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

HPR1000 DESIGN INTENDED FOR PROPOSED CGN-EDF DEVELOPMENT AT BRADWELL-ON-SEA IN ESSEX, UNDERPINNING GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO NET ZERO EMISSIONS

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) today (13/02) announced the commencement of Step 4 of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) for the UK HPR1000 nuclear technology. This marks the start of the final step in a robust and independent process to seek approval for the design, and brings closer the deployment of a fleet of UK HPR1000 nuclear power stations that will play a major part in achieving the Government’s goal of net zero climate change gas emissions by 2050. This investment will also bring with it very significant industrial and economic benefits locally, regionally and throughout the UK.

Step 4 of the GDA will move to a more detailed assessment of the design of the reactor and of the supporting evidence provided by CGN, and, as during earlier stages in the process, will continue to be open to public comment. During this phase the Environment Agency, joint UK nuclear regulator together with the ONR, will also undertake its own public consultation.

The progress of the GDA is a key step forward for the proposed new nuclear power station at Bradwell in Essex, since the UK HPR1000 reactor will be built there should it receive design acceptance. The Bradwell B project is currently in an early planning stage, which has so far involved several years of investigative works. The project is currently preparing its initial proposals ahead of undertaking detailed public consultation with local communities.

Zhu Minhong, Managing Director of GNSL, said: “Moving into Step 4 of the GDA marks the culmination of several years of hard work and is a major milestone for both the UK HPR1000 and the Bradwell B project. It brings closer the deployment of a fleet of new power stations that will play a major role in supporting the Government’s target of net zero by 2050.” Information on the UK HPR1000 is available on its GDA website, which provides the opportunity to ask questions and feedback comments. The website can be found at www.ukhpr1000.co.uk. CGN and EDF submitted an application through their joint venture company GNSL (General Nuclear System Ltd) to BEIS (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) in October 2016 to begin the GDA
process for a UK version of the HPR1000 nuclear technology.

The UK’s joint regulators, the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency provide rigorous, independent scrutiny of the plans. All nuclear operators in the UK must work within this strict regulatory framework, and all reactor designs satisfy the safety, security and environmental requirements of the Generic Design Assessment process.

The GDA process for the UK HPR1000 will overall have taken a number of years to complete, culminating, if successful, in a Design Acceptance Confirmation (DAC) and Statement of Design Acceptability (SoDA) from the ONR and EA respectively. There are a number of other consents and permissions to be achieved before a nuclear power station can be constructed; in addition to successfully completing the GDA process, other requirements include development consent, site licensing and environmental permits.

Both the GDA process and the Bradwell B project are being led by CGN, supported by EDF. CGN is the world’s biggest developer of new nuclear power stations with 5 units currently under construction in China. With a fleet of 24 units already in operation CGN is the third largest nuclear enterprise in the world. In the UK it is an industrial partner in the Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C projects alongside EDF.