The UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has given permission for EDF to restart two advanced gas-cooled reactors at the Hinkley Point B power station in southwest England for a limited period of operation.

Permission for Hinkley Point B-1 will allow it to operate to a core utilisation of 17.55 terawatt days, while permission for Hinkley Point B-2 is to operate to a core utilisation of 17.3 terawatt days, which equates to two periods of approximately six months operation for each reactor. Graphite core inspections will take place between each period of operation.

Unit B-2 was taken offline on 21 February and Unit B-1 on 8 June 2020 for a series of planned inspections of graphite bricks that form the reactor’s core. EDF said it plans to run the two units for six months, take them offline for further inspections and, subject to ONR approval, generate power for a second six-month period