HPC is on track to reach J0 this summer
J0 – or ‘Jalon Zero’ – is a French term meaning ‘milestone zero’. At HPC it refers to the point when work starts on building the nuclear power station’s structures above ground. HPC is on track to reach J0 this summer when the final concrete is poured for the Common Raft.
The journey to J0has been a monumental effort. A total of 5.6 million m3 of rock was excavated for the Deep Dig and 9,800m3 of concrete has been poured to date. The Common Raft is the base of the Unit 1 reactor, made of reinforced concrete and ensures the stability of the Reactor Building, Safeguard Buildings and Fuel Buildings that all rest on it. It’s designed to withstand earthquakes, aircraft strikes and an explosion or fire.
Handover of Unit 2 Nuclear Island
T1 supplier Kier BAM have successfully achieved their latest milestone – the handover of reactor nit 2’s Nuclear Island to Bylor – HPC’s main civils contractor. Tom Moore, Kier BAM Deep Dig Construction Manager, said: “The Kier BAM and EDF Energy delivery teams have worked tirelessly to deliver these works safely and to an exceptionally high standard. We’ve used the lessons learnt and good practice from Unit 1, specifically the sequence of construction and handover process, to improve programme delivery.”
Pump House takes shape
Bylor has now successfully completed the five concrete rafts for reactor Unit 1’s Pump House – the building that will eventually be the focal point for all of the power stations cooling water systems. Although it stands 54m tall, the Pump House is buried 36m deep on three sides. It contains cooling water systems and supporting functions, such as filtration and ventilation.
Clearing the way for National Grid substation
Kier BAM has completed the handover of the area to the south of site that will eventually be the location of HPCs substation – allowing it to transfer its low carbon electricity to the grid. The completion of the platform will now allow National Grid to begin works on the Shurton Substation grid connection.
Work begins on Combwich Wharf
As the site jetty gets ready for commissioning, refurbishment is also beginning soon on the existing wharf at Combwich. When it’s complete later this next year, the improvements at Combwich Wharf will allow large loads to arrive by sea and then be transported the short distance around Combwich via a designated access road, to the C182 and then on to the HPC site. The revamped wharf will help reduce the impact on local roads and traffic.