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Hinkley Point C, Near Bridgwater, Somerset - Environmental Permit variation application
What is happening?
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY Advertisement of an application for a variation to an Environmental Permit for Hinkley Point C (HPC) Nuclear Power Station under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
The Environment Agency is the independent environmental regulator for the nuclear industry in England. We make sure that nuclear power
stations meet our high standards of environmental protection.
We’ve received an application for a variation involving substantial change to a permit from NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited. We must decide whether to grant or refuse the application. If we grant it, we must
decide what conditions to include in the permit.
Type of regulated activities and permit number:
Combustion Activities environmental permit reference EPR/ZP3238FH/V004 Regulated facility address: Hinkley Point C, Near Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 1UD
NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited has applied to the Environment
Agency for a variation to environmental permit EPR/ZP3238FH/V004.
The site is currently permitted for a combustion activity regulated under
the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
The existing permit includes a Schedule 1.1 Part A(1)(a) activity,
namely the burning of fuel in an appliance with a rated thermal input of 50 megawatts or more. This permits the operation of standby diesel
generators to provide back-up electrical power at the site in the event of a loss of off-site power.
Since the permit was originally granted in 2013, several design changes
have been made. The proposed variation would allow the installation of
additional back-up generators and changes to those already permitted,
to improve the resilience of the site in the event of a loss of off-site
power. These changes would increase the combined total thermal input
of the combustion plant to approximately 243 MWth, representing an increase of approximately 67 MWth compared to the previously
permitted total.
As part of the proposed variation, NNB Generation Company (HPC)
Limited is also seeking to reduce the permitted operational hours for the
back-up generators to less than 500 hours per year. There is no change
to the type of regulated activity permitted under the Environmental
Permitting Regulations.
In determining the application, the Environment Agency will assess
whether the operator will use best available techniques (BAT) to prevent
or, where that is not practicable, minimise emissions and impacts on
people and the environment. A varied permit will only be issued if all
relevant legislative and regulatory requirements are met. The application
can be viewed on Citizen Space using the link below. If you have any comments send these by 16 June 2026.
Comments can be made: online: https://consult.environment-agency. gov.uk/psc/ta5-1ud-nnb-generation-company-hpc-limited-v004, via email: pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk For advice about how to make a representation or if you are unable to make a representation via e-mail, please call 03708 506 506
Please quote the application number in any correspondence: EPR/ZP3238FH/V004.
The Environment Agency will normally put any comments it receives on
the public register. This includes your name but not your personal contact
details.
Please tell us if you do not want your response to be public.
The privacy notice for permit applicants/operators can be viewed at
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/environmental-permits-privacy-notice Read about our work regulating Hinkley Point
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hinkley-point-nuclear-regulation
Ensuring that any new nuclear power station built in England will meet high standards of environmental protection and waste management.
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