EDF - Hinkley Point

EDF Energy submits Nuclear Site Licence and key Environmental Permit Applications for Hinkley Point C

EDF Energy has submitted a Nuclear Site Licence| application to the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and Environmental Permit| applications to the Environment Agency in support of the company’s proposals to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

This represents a major milestone for EDF Energy’s Nuclear New Build project and is the first time in around 20 years that a licence and permits for a new nuclear power plant have been applied for.

The licence and environmental permit applications were submitted by NNB Generation Company Ltd (NNB GenCo), a subsidiary of EDF Energy in which Centrica is a partner.

NNB GenCo is the prospective nuclear site licensee and will build and operate the plant, subject to receiving all relevant permits and planning consent. The applications form part of the preparations for the construction of two new EPRTM (European Pressurised Reactors) at Hinkley Point.

The applications have been made in advance of applying for full planning permission (a Development Consent Order) for the new power station and associated development from the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC).

This enables early regulatory oversight and allows the regulators sufficient time to make thorough assessments of the applications before advising the IPC on EDF Energy’s capability to become a nuclear site licensee and competent permit holder.

A Nuclear Site Licence is issued by the Chief Inspector at the ONR on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive. It is one of the pre-requisites allowing the licensee to build, commission, operate and decommission a civil nuclear power station.

The NSL application itself contains submissions describing and demonstrating the company’s organisation and management structure and processes. While there is no legal requirement to publish these documents, EDF Energy is doing so as part of its commitment to be open and transparent.

Once it has all the information it requires to determine them, the Environment Agency will undertake public consultation on the operational environmental permits that EDF Energy has applied for. These include a Radioactive Substances Regulation Environmental Permit, which sets limits on the safe and controlled discharge and disposal of small amounts of low-level radioactive liquids, gaseous and solid wastes from the operation of the facility.

The company is also applying for a Combustion Activity Environmental Permit which regulates discharges from the operation of standby diesel generators.

The Nuclear Site Licence can be viewed on EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C project website at www.edfenergyconsultation.info/nslandepa| and the environmental permit documents will also be uploaded in due course.

Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, Managing Director of Nuclear New Build at EDF Energy, said:

“This is a significant milestone for EDF Energy’s project at Hinkley Point and for the industry as a whole. It is the first time in around 20 years that applications have been made for a licence and environmental permits for a new nuclear power plant, and we’re pleased to be making them publicly available.

“It is important that we are open and transparent in our work.

“Hinkley Point C is a nationally important project, which will provide safe, reliable, affordable and low carbon energy to about five million homes. We are delighted to be leading the UK’s nuclear renaissance.”

ENDS

Note to Editors:

The EPR design has already been subject to four years of assessment by the ONR and Environment Agency through the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process, with details being published on the regulators’ websites http://www.hse.gov.uk/newreactors/index.htm|

The Nuclear Site Licence is issued by the ONR under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. The environmental permits are issued by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.

Later this year, EDF Energy intends to make a further application to the Environment Agency for the discharge of cooling water from the site. This is being finalised.

Information on the Environment Agency’s consultation relating to Hinkley Point will be provided later in this month on http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/hinkleypoint |

EDF Energy

EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies and the largest producer of low-carbon electricity, producing around one-sixth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear power stations, wind farms, coal and gas power stations and combined heat and power plants. The company supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customer accounts and is the biggest supplier of electricity by volume in Great Britain.

EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear plants, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants could generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.

In its nuclear activities EDF Energy has partnered with Centrica, which has a 20% stake in the company’s eight existing plants and in the project carrying out pre-development work for new build. Centrica also has the option to take up to 20% stakes in each of the four planned plants.

Through Our Sustainability Commitments, EDF Energy has launched one of the biggest environmental and social programmes of any British energy company and the company has since been awarded the highest ranking of Platinum Plus in Business in the Community’s 2011 Corporate Responsibility Index, the UK’s leading voluntary benchmark of corporate responsibility.

EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Team Green Britain, smart meters and electric vehicle research.

EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. The company employs around 15,000 people at locations across the UK.