Sizewell nuclear concrete reuse project cuts emissions and costs

Crushed concrete from the decommissioned Sizewell A nuclear plant is being reused on the neighbouring Sizewell C project in Suffolk in a circular economy deal.

Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) demolished the Sizewell A turbine hall and processed more than 15,000 tonnes of concrete from the turbine alternator plinths.

The material, now fully certified under the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Quality Protocol, is being used as sub-base for foundations within the Sizewell C Main Construction Area.

The two sites, located only a few hundred metres apart, coordinated to transport the recycled aggregate without requiring long-distance haulage, cutting around 800 vehicle movements from local roads.

According to NRS, the project avoided 28 tonnes of CO₂ emissions by diverting waste from landfill and eliminating the need for newly quarried materials.

Wendy Heath, senior project manager at NRS, said the collaboration demonstrated “how collaborative working is enabling sustainable decommissioning”, while also aligning with the company’s values of safety, sustainability and community.

Senior representatives from the Environment Agency and East Suffolk Council had approached Sizewell C to suggest the reuse initiative. All materials were tested, crushed and certified on site at Sizewell A before transfer.

Damian Leydon, site delivery director at Sizewell C, said the scheme reduced demand for newly sourced aggregate and minimised construction traffic through East Suffolk.

The reused material supports Sizewell C’s UK content and local spending targets. The scheme is part of a broader government-backed push to improve sustainability in nuclear development, following January 2024’s triggering of the Development Consent Order for Sizewell C and an additional £1.3bn in government funding for preparatory works.

The Environment Agency said it would continue working with NRS to encourage similar approaches across other decommissioning sites.

Source: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Nuclear Restoration Services announcement