Page 46 - October 2019

igem news

EVENTS

all aspects of the construction site, the
largest and most complex project in
Europe, which will result in a brand
new 3,200MW state of the art nuclear
FACTORY the UK’s energy mix for many decades
THE REACTOR power station. The two water-cooled
reactors will deliver a key component of

to come, with the electricity generated
offsetting nine million tonnes of carbon
dioxide emissions a year, or 600 million
tonnes over its 60-year lifespan.
Hinkley Point C, the first nuclear
power station to be built in the UK in
over 20 years, will create over 25,000
job opportunities and up to 1,000
By Grant Rogers, IGEM South West Section Chair apprenticeships, with over 64 per cent
of the project’s construction value going
IN JULY, IGEM’S South West Section backed by a consortium of familiar to UK companies.
enjoyed a technical visit to the names, began in 1957 with the station Hinkley Point C is also home to the
construction site of a new nuclear coming on line in 1965 and operating world’s largest crane, affectionately
reactor currently taking shape at for over three decades before it was known as Big Carl – named after
Somerset’s Hinkley Point. decommissioned in 2000. Technical Solutions Director Carl
The event was a great success with 15 The site also includes the Hinkley Sarens. Big Carl is being shipped to site
delegates, members and non-members Point B station, comprised of two via 280 trucks from nearby Bristol and
alike, meeting up at the visitor centre 1,494MWt advanced gas-cooled although it was only part built during
in Bridgwater for security checks and a reactors, commissioned in 1976 and our visit, it was still very impressive.
short briefing before boarding a coach expected to be decommissioned in 2023 We had excellent feedback from all
to the site with other visitors. having exceeded its original design life. who attended and we’re looking forward
The briefing explained the evolution The station was shut down in 2006 to organising another visit early next
of nuclear power stations over the for detailed inspections ahead of its life year to review progress on the project.
decades at the wider Hinkley Point site, extension, following which the reactors
which still includes the decommissioned were recommissioned, although the If you would like to join the committee
Hinkley Point A Magnox reactors housed station now generates at around 80 per to help organise more great events like
in two large buildings. cent of its original design capacity. this, please get in touch with us at
Construction of these reactors, The hour-long sealed tour took in southwest@igem.org.uk.

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