EDF and Rolls-Royce sign Hinkley contract

Rolls-Royce has signed a contract with EDF Energy to provide heat exchangers for the nuclear island systems at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset.

The car manufacturer was selected as preferred bidder for the heat exchangers in 2016, and will also supply the primary, liquid and gaseous waste treatment systems, and ultimate diesel generators.

Chris Tierney, Rolls-Royce executive vice president – nuclear, said: “Our approach as a strategic partner allows us to use Rolls-Royce engineering expertise and supply chain integration experience to bring great value to large infrastructure projects like this, and we’re delighted to become fully involved in this strategically important new power station and to deliver our commitments.”

A team of 80 Rolls-Royce engineers and supply chain specialists at its Derby, Barnwood and Warrington bases are currently working on the project.

Stuart Crooks, EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C managing director, said of the deal: “We have already signed over £9.5 billion of contracts and [this] news is further evidence of the positive impact the project is having on British jobs, skills and industrial capacity.”

Hinkley Point C will provide 7 per cent of the nation’s electricity needs from 2025 onwards, when it comes online. The twin unit UK European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR) will be capable of generating 3,260MW of secure, low carbon electricity for 60 years, and will power around six million UK homes.

Elsewhere at Hinkley this week, a dispute between workers at the construction site has ended. About 600 staff staged a two-day long sit-in at the staff canteen, claiming they had not been paid for days when snow stopped work last week.

EDF had said the workers were paid at a union-agreed rate. Both sides have now reached agreement.