Name of the Project
Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant (NPP) project.

Location
On a site to the west of the existing Hinkley Point A and B power stations in West Somerset, in the UK. Hinkley A was decommissioned in 2000 and Hinkley B is due to be decommissioned in 2023.

Project Owner/s
Nuclear New Build, a subsidiary created by EDF Energy.

Project Description
The project will involve the construction, operation and maintenance of a new nuclear power station, known as Hinkley Point C.

The development will include:
• two UK European pressurised reactors (EPRs) with a combined output of 3 200 MW, associated buildings and a plant;
• staff facilities, offices, workshops and storage buildings;
• cooling water tunnels and associated infrastructure, including a fish recovery and return system;
• fuel and management facilities, including for spent fuel and intermediate waste;
• a sea wall, incorporating a public footpath;
• a national-grid 400 kV substation and overhead power lines on site;
• a public information centre;
• a temporary jetty;
• an emergency access road;
• access and parking facilities for workers, visitors and deliveries; and
• a temporary accommodation campus, including 510 bed spaces.

The new power plant will be capable of generating up to 3 260 MW.

The power station is expected to operate for about 60 years.

Potential Job Creation
Construction and operation of Hinkley Point C will create about 25 000 employment opportunities and up to 1 000 apprenticeships. An estimated 64% and 64% of the project’s construction value is predicted to go to UK companies.

Capital Expenditure
Delays arising from the Covid-19 pandemic will increase the cost of the project to £23-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
EDF has revised the schedule for the commissioning of the project. The start of electricity generation from Unit 1 is now expected in June 2026, compared with the end of 2025 as initially announced in 2016.

Latest Developments
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has delivered the first pump set of 34 units, comprising five models for Units 1 and 2 at the NPP to Trillium Flow Technologies.

The pump sets are important rotary components, which will support the operation of Hinkley Point C.

The pump set is one of the most important components of an NPP, playing a central role in removing the heat from the reactor containment and fuel pool in a serious accident situation.

MHI is responsible for design and manufacture of all the pumps, while Trillium is responsible for the project management, the buying of motors, pre-installation testing and the delivery of pump sets.

After the delivery, the pump set will go through pre-installation testing at Trillium and then be delivered to the NPP. The remaining pump sets will be delivered to Trillium sequentially.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Kier BAM JV (site preparation works); Framatome SA (pressure vessel and steam generators); Bouygues and O’Rourke JV (construction contract); Sarens NV (assembling the world’s biggest crane at the site to aid construction at a later stage); MHI (pump sets), Trilium (subcontractor to MHI) and Tecnatom (preoperational inspection services).

Contact Details for Project Information
EDF Energy, tel +44 1138 207117.