The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has overseen a major milestone at Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station, which has now been declared nuclear fuel free.
After 46 years of generating electricity, the EDF-run site in Bridgwater, Somerset, has completed defuelling of both reactors.
A site is declared ’fuel free’ once all fuel has been removed from the reactors, ponds and any other interim storage areas, taking away the vast majority of radioactive hazard from the site.
Hinkley Point B is the second of the UK’s seven advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) stations to be declared fuel free - the first being Hunterston B in spring 2025.
Since 2022, nuclear fuel has been removed from the reactors and safely transported by rail by Nuclear Transport Solutions to Sellafield in Cumbria for storage.
Mike Webb, ONR’s Joint Head of Safety Regulation for the Operating Reactors Sub-directorate, said: “Throughout the defuelling phase our inspectors have worked effectively with EDF to enable them to safely reach this significant milestone for the site.”
The site’s focus now turns to transferring the site licence from EDF to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) for its subsidiary Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) to carry out decommissioning work.
ONR has already received an application from NRS seeking regulatory approval to become the new licensee for Hinkley Point B.
In its recent licence application to ONR, the scheduled transfer date from EDF to NRS is 1 October 2026.
NRS will decommission the site, which will involve dismantling and demolishing the plant and buildings.
Currently, NRS is responsible for safely decommissioning 13 sites across the country, including the first generation of nuclear and research sites.
At the point of fuel free verification this month, the regulation of Hinkley Point B moved from ONR's Operating Facilities directorate to its Sellafield decommissioning, fuel and waste directorate.
Tom Eagleton, ONR’s Head of Safety Regulation for Decommissioning fuel and waste sub-directorate, said: “Our inspectors will continue to effectively and efficiently regulate the site during the decommissioning phase to ensure the licensee complies with all regulations to safeguard workers and the public.”