Proposed to be used in new nuclear power stations at Wylfa in Anglesey, and Oldbury in South Gloucestershire, the reactor’s assessment follows nine months of preparatory work by Hitachi-GE, and the regulators.
GDA enables the regulators to start assessment of the safety, security, environmental and waste implications of new reactor designs before site-specific proposals are brought forward.
ONR deputy chief inspector Mark Foy said, ”The GDA process enables ONR to undertake a pre-assessment of the safety and security aspects of a reactor design to determine its suitability for use in the UK.”
Environment Agency Nuclear Regulation group manager Ian Parker said, ”Subject to the company providing acceptable and timely submissions to us, we should be able to complete GDA in around four years.”
Natural Resources Wales source Iwan Williams said, ”While the GDA process is generic for England and Wales, it will also underpin the assessments we will need to make for the proposed development at Wylfa Newydd.”
Natural Resources Wales is also participating in the GDA process along with the other two regulators.
Meanwhile, Hitachi-GE is also launching its GDA comments process that allows anyone to submit comments and questions to the company for their response.
