nuclear-news

Proposed change to how Hinkley Point C stores radioactive waste.

The Environment Agency has launched a consultation on the way radioactive waste
will be stored at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station near Bridgwater.
NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited was originally issued a radioactive
substances environmental permit in 2013.

In the original design radioactive
waste was to be stored on-site in ‘wet storage’ – a method of
submerging and storing in water. The operator has now decided to change the
technology by which it will store spent nuclear fuel, from wet storage to
‘dry storage’.

Dry storage will see used nuclear fuel stored in sealed
containers within a facility, before it is sent to the GDF. This means the
operator now seeks to change its radioactive substances environmental
permit to remove or amend specific conditions related to the previous wet
storage technology that are no longer relevant. The operator has said
altering the storage method will not change the expected radiation dose to
the general public from discharges or the wider environment, which remains
incredibly small.

Separately, NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited will be
seeking the necessary changes to its Development Consent Order for Hinkley
Point C in the autumn. The Environment Agency has launched today a
four-week public consultation where you will be able to view the
application and send it your comments.

 Environment Agency 18th July 2022

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/proposed-change-to-how-hinkley-point-c-stores-radioactive-waste

July 18, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized