Hinkley Point C, Near Bridgwater - Environmental Permit Variation

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-lud-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.