Hinkley Point nuclear site advances with new tunnel and decommissioning

Construction at the Hinkley Point nuclear site in Somerset is progressing through both new development and decommissioning phases. At Hinkley Point C, engineers have completed a 620-metre marine tunnel beneath the Bristol Channel. The tunnel, excavated by a boring machine named ‘Sarah Guppy’, is part of a fish return system designed to protect marine life through acoustic deterrents and low-speed water intakes. Once operational, Hinkley Point C is expected to provide low-carbon electricity for approximately six million homes.

Simultaneously, the Hinkley Point B station has entered an 85-year decommissioning programme. Following its closure in 2022, the site has been transferred from EDF to Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS). The decommissioning process involves several stages, beginning with the dismantling of buildings and plant materials through 2038, followed by a long period of radioactive decay management. Spent fuel from the reactor has already been moved to Sellafield for safe storage.