Work starts at Hinkley Point C on fish protection system

Tunnel boring machine

Engineers at Hinkley Point C are ready to start tunnelling the second of three fish protection measures at the nuclear power station. The fish return system will be 620m long and 1.8m in diameter. The tunnel boring machine has been named ‘Sarah Guppy’ by local schoolchildren after the pioneering 19th century woman engineer. With two other systems in place, Hinkley Point C will have more fish protection than any other power station in the world.

The latest milestone comes as the Government responds to the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Report which looks at ways to make regulation smarter, effective and proportionate to enable the delivery of new nuclear. EDF chairman Sir Alex Chisholm said: “The current volatility in global fossil-fuel markets underlines the benefit of homegrown nuclear electricity to Britain. Its reputation for safe operation and construction must be underpinned by effective regulation. We welcome the opportunity to help make sure regulation is timely, predictable and proportionate.

“On the environment, there is no need to choose between protecting nature and the delivery of essential national infrastructure, both can be achieved. The current approach can end up delivering small benefits to local wildlife at a large cost to the country. The taskforce is right to ask if there is a better way.”

Hinkley Point C’s other fish protection systems are specially designed intake heads to slow the speed of water entering the cooling tunnels and a new type of acoustic fish deterrent to keep fish away.