Sizewell C is set to reuse more than 15,000 tonnes of recycled concrete from Sizewell A’s demolished turbine hall.
The turbine hall was demolished as part of the site’s decommissioning, led by Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), and the concrete has now undergone rigorous safety tests.
The recycled concrete will be used as sub-bases for various foundations, with the aim of reducing shared costs and carbon emissions and the need for additional mined materials.
Damian Leydon, Site Delivery Director at Sizewell C, said: “This is another example of how Sizewell C is working with local projects to maximise benefits, not just for us, but for the local community.
“By reusing this material, we’re reducing the number of trucks transporting aggregate through East Suffolk, while further reaffirming our commitment of minimising our environmental impact during construction. This is great news all round.”
Wendy Heath, NRS Senior Project Manager, said: “This innovative approach has prevented 28 tonnes of CO₂ emissions by diverting waste from landfill, completing the circular economy for this material.
“This marks a first-of-its-kind achievement for NRS and showcases how collaborative working is enabling sustainable decommissioning. By reducing waste and minimising traffic on local roads, we’re actively supporting the future of clean energy.
“It’s a clear demonstration of NRS values in action – placing safety, sustainability and community impact at the heart of everything we do.”
Sizewell A has been carrying out the crushing, testing and certification of the concrete since September to ensure it meets the WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) Quality Protocol.
Once certified, the material was transported to the Sizewell C site as recycled aggregate.
Sally Coble, Nuclear Regulation Group Manager (South) at the Environment Agency, said: “This is a great example of the Environment Agency’s enabling approach to regulation.
“We worked with Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) and Sizewell C to facilitate the reuse of the Sizewell A turbine hall demolition waste.
“Reusing the crushed concrete as aggregate at Sizewell C is a sustainable approach to nuclear site decommissioning.
“We’re continuing to influence NRS to ensure this approach is used, where possible, at all decommissioning sites.”