Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station Returns to Service

Sizewell B Power Station, the UK’s largest nuclear power plant, has successfully returned to service following a major maintenance and upgrade program. The £75 million investment has enabled the plant to continue generating low-carbon electricity for the nation.

During the outage, engineers carried out a comprehensive range of maintenance tasks, including refueling the reactor and replacing a turbine rotor system. Additionally, divers inspected the plant’s intake pipe to ensure its continued safe and efficient operation.

Robert Gunn, the station director, said: “Our teams have performed an amazing job. They completed 15,000 separate pieces of work across 1,500 pieces of our plant.”

“We even sent divers to our intake pipe, which draws in the water we use in our operations, for inspections,” added Mr Gunn.”Because of this work we now have a hugely improved picture of what is happening in our plant and reactor. We plan to extend the life of our plant, beyond 2035 to 2055, so understanding what is happening inside all of our systems is vital.”

The return to service of Sizewell B is a significant milestone for the UK’s energy sector, as it contributes to the country’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and ensuring a reliable energy supply.