Preparations for nuclear new build

Andy Spurr, MD of EDF Existing Nuclear, is responsible for the operation of 15 nuclear reactors in the UK. Andy opened the session by talking through EDF Energy's Mission and Vision and the company’s aspiration to lead the energy change to low carbon solutions. 

Part of this programme is the construction in the UK of European pressurised-water reactors (EPR). Andy highlighted that he was very clear about the hierarchy of priorities for EDF: safety, quality, timeliness and lastly cost. While emphasizing the importance of the highest quality standards for new build, Andy recalled a problem with the integrity of boiler cover plates at Heysham I and Harlepool, in which failure to protect the wire winding with grease during construction led to corrosion of the wire and, many years later, a painful and costly outage for both plants.  

Nigel Cann, EDF Energy Hinkley Point B Site Director and newly appointed Hinkley Point C Construction Director, explained the value of the 'Fleet' approach: having a series of reactors of the same design, which is the French experience with PWRs. Nigel gave an important message that applies to all of us in the nuclear industry – the biggest threat to the New Build programme is an incident at an existing nuclear plant, impacting public opinion: we must remain vigilant and protective of nuclear safety.

Dave Watson and Steve Gibson of the HSE's Nuclear Directorate are responsible respectively for overseeing the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) and individual site permissioning and approval. This is a new regulatory approach whereby the generic design of the reactor is approved and then individual sites and operators are given approval subject to local site issues and acceptability of the operator’s arrangements.

Presentations from Dave and Steve were well received and we learned about the modern programme-driven approach adopted by both teams. The GDA is a £50m programme, due to be completed in June 2011 and is resourced by a dedicated NII team and technical support contractors. Steve mentioned the Regulatory Nuclear Interface Protocol (RNIP) to manage the communications and programming of the massive effort that will be needed to service the licensing of expected programme of between 10-12 reactors in the UK by 2025.

A Q&A session followed during which Andy and Nigel (EDF Energy) and Dave and Steve (NII) responded to questions.

After lunch, presentations by Robert Davies of Areva and Klaids Lafon de Ribeyrolles and Tim Jackson from Rolls Royce focused on the challenges facing supply chain management in a global market. Interestingly Areva are developing their own standard to use within the supply chain which is a marriage of ISO 9001, IAEA GS-R-3 and ASME NQA1. Rolls Royce use their SABRe process to assess and develop their supply chain. This prompted further discussion of the value of an industry-wide approach to enhance ISO 9001.

It was great to meet up with members from around the country, including some new faces and in particular good to welcome two engineers from Eskom (the South African utility).

Many thanks are due to EDF's Gautier Cossart and Melanie Benson for organizing this very successful event.

Presentations:

EDF Introduction

EDF Fleet Approach

NII Generic Design Assessment

NII Site Permissioning

AREVA Presentation

Rolls Royce Presentation