GDA process for the UK EPR™ reactor
The UK faces a huge challenge to ensure a secure supply of clean and affordable energy. The most effective way to keep the lights on, to keep energy bills down and to deal with climate change is through using energy more efficiently and generating electricity from a diverse mix of lower carbon energy sources. This mix includes new nuclear power stations, renewables, clean coal and gas.
Deciding on the right way to address these challenges is an issue of national importance and the consultation on the role of new nuclear is vital to reach a national policy position on the way forward. Building the generating capacity to address these challenges will take time and, with that in mind, work is continuing on a contingent basis.
Building and maintaining public confidence in the nuclear industry is important to us, and we recognise that engaging with members of the public is a good way of helping us achieve that. We are therefore committed to being as open and transparent as possible, which is why we are publishing our safety, security and environmental submissions and inviting comments on them. The UK Nuclear Regulators (the Health and Safety Executive, and the Environment Agency) have developed a process for a Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process for new UK nuclear power stations. The aim is to produce a consistent and transparent process that can be applied to the different reactor designs offered by several companies.
Under the Generic Design Assessment process, companies submit information on their reactor designs to the Nuclear Regulators, who assess this information before a full application is made to build a nuclear power station at a particular site.
The process involves a rigorous and structured examination of detailed design information by the Regulators. At the end of their assessment (and at key stages during it), the Regulators will issue reports on their findings, confirming whether they judge a design to be satisfactory.
These reports, along with regular updates on the GDA process, can be found on the GDA website. The assessment process will be carried out in an open and transparent manner, designed to facilitate the involvement of the public, who will be able to view and comment on design information published on the web.
The UK EPR™ reactor Generic Design Assessment process
EPR™ reactor
AREVA NP / Image et Process
AREVA and EDF have submitted a joint application for Generic Design Assessment of the UK EPR.
This nuclear power reactor combines familiar and proven technology with performance and safety innovations.
The UK EPR is based on the EPR™ reactor already being built at Flamanville in France. The application brings together the combined strengths of:
AREVA, the owner and manufacturer of EPR™ technology, and a vendor already building EPR™ reactors in Finland, China and France, EDF, the leading nuclear energy utility in Europe and a potential UK site licensee, which is constructing an EPR™ reactor in France.
The purpose of this website is to allow members of the public to make a comment on the UK EPR™ submission.
We hope you will use the site to learn about the UK EPR™ reactor.
