Cavendish Nuclear has announced a 10-year contract with EDF Energy to sustain critical infrastructure at two UK NPPs following a strategic partnering agreement between Cavendish Nuclear and EDF Energy to support the continued operation of its existing fleet. Cavendish in partnership with EDF Energy will renew the primary shutdown systems at the Heysham 2 and Torness plants so that they can continue generating safely and reliably until the end of their operating lives.
The two Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR) stations came on line in 1988 and both have had their lifetimes extended to 2030. AGRs rely on some 3000 analogue modular elements (the reactor protection system), which monitor the reactor and are part of multi-layered safety systems which automatically shut-down the reactor if defined parameters are reached.
Ian Haines, engineering manager at Heysham 2, said: “We are continuously reviewing our systems and looking at improving and refining them so that we can continue to operate safely and reliably. The stations have an impressive operating record and investments such as this will ensure that we can operate consistently until at least 2030.”
