Hinkley Point B’s second nuclear reactor is back to full power after a planned period of maintenance.
Reactor 4, which had been shutdown since 14th October for its three-yearly inspection and maintenance check-up, was synchronised to the National Grid on 4th January.
EDF says the power station, located near Burnham, is now once again generating enough electricity to power around one million homes.
The power station’s own 550 employees were joined by around 1,000 additional contractors to work on the major maintenance programme.
The work was the culmination of around two years of planning and resulted in an investment of more than £35 million in the plant.
The schedule included replacement of a station transformer and exchange of four large gas circulators. The reactor’s graphite core was also inspected to confirm its safe condition as well as maintenance of the unit’s turbine.
Mike Harrison, station director, said: “A great deal of important work is now successfully completed that will stand us in good stead for the continued safe operation of the power station and our team can be proud of their achievement.”
