EDF to redesign flagship UK nuclear reactors after China shutdown

The power company charged with driving Britain's nuclear revolution is to overhaul the design of its flagship new reactor to avoid a repeat of damage to fuel rods that forced a unit in China to shut down. 

EDF plans to prevent malfunctions in future by changing the way the rods are held in place. It is also exploring potential changes involving coolant waters to lessen the problem. 

The French state-owned business is building the UK’s first nuclear power station in a generation, Hinkley Point C, in Somerset. It is also in advanced talks with the Government about developing a second station, Sizewell C, in Suffolk. 

Both reactors use the new EPR technology developed by EDF which was first deployed at a station in Taishan, China, developed with its partner China General Nuclear. 

One of the station’s two reactors is still shut down after it was taken offline last July because of fuel damage, less than three years after it started running. Chinese regulators are believed to be reviewing plans to restart the unit. 

EDF and its EPR reactor designs are under growing scrutiny as governments scramble to find new clean energy sources and cut their reliance on Russian gas.

A second EPR opened in March in Olkiluoto, Finland, more than 10 years late, while a third EPR in Flamanville, France, is also heavily delayed. 

A Hinkley Point C spokesman said the problem with fuel assemblies at Taishan had been “investigated and is understood”. 

She said: “A detailed solution has been identified by Framatome and will be implemented for Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C. 

“We are confident that this will be effective as it is based on a detailed understanding of the issue and operational experience at existing power stations, including Sizewell B in Britain. 

“[...] As a prudent operator, we will investigate all potential alternative mitigations and share that information with the nuclear regulator.”

A spokesman for the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said it had been in regular contact with counterparts in France, Finland and China  over the Taishan problems.

He added: “The knowledge gained from this issue will be used to help inform ONR’s regulation of nuclear plants in the UK, like Hinkley Point C, where the EPR reactor will be installed.

“As we’d expect of any licensee, all options are being considered to address the Taishan operational experience and any new proposals for change, submitted to ONR, would be rigorously assessed by ourselves in due course before any approval being granted for them to be implemented.”

The ONR said there was “more than sufficient time” for EDF to make any changes to Hinkley based on lessons from Taishan.

Hinkley Point C is not set to start generating in June 2027. Last week, EDF said it has applied for leeway in its subsidy contract in case of any further delays.