Five sites have been selected for the next phase of the Chief Nuclear Inspector’s (CNI) themed inspection on climate change.
Heysham 2, Sizewell B, Sellafield, Dounreay and the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) (Aldermaston and Burghfield) are the chosen sites to be taken forward to the inspection stage by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
This follows a completed ONR review of self-assessment questionnaires from the industry on their arrangements for and resilience to climate change effects.
These five sites provide a cross-section of the industry and selections have been based on factors including site lifetimes, safety significance and opportunities for learning.
The inspections will take place between April and December.
Focus will be placed on how sites are considering climate change in their hazard definitions and arrangements, the types of external hazards affected by climate change that pose the biggest challenge to nuclear facilities, and longer-term considerations of climate change in view of potential uncertainties with climate science evolution.
ONR's themed inspection team has been engaging regularly with the environment agencies - Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and Scottish Environment Protection Agency - and also taking the opportunity to maintain valuable dialogues with overseas nuclear regulators about how they are addressing this topic.
Last week, ONR hosted a meeting with the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS), and Belgium’s Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) to share learning and experiences.
Alexandra Edey, Nuclear Safety Inspector, said: "It is essential that nuclear licensed sites remain safe and secure against the effects of climate change and that all reasonably-foreseeable impacts of climate change over the lifetime of a facility should be taken into account.
"We look forward to entering this next important stage of the CNI themed inspection to gain first-hand insight of the industry's ongoing plans to adapt and mitigate for future climate change challenges."
The Chief Nuclear Inspector’s themed inspections were introduced in 2017 and are designed to examine regulatory matters that are strategic or broader in nature than ONR’s more routine regulatory inspection activities.
They also raise awareness of important issues and highlight ONR’s regulatory activities and expectations to a wider audience, in addition to the nuclear industry.
If dutyholders have any questions or comments, please contact CNIClimateChange@onr.gov.uk