Sellafield powers forward with more resilient electricity supply

19th February 2025

An important project to ensure the Sellafield site has a more resilient electricity supply has taken a significant step forward.

The Electrical Distribution Network Upgrade Project (EDNUP) aims to strengthen the site's electrical distribution network by installing six new substations and bolstering its emergency power generation capability.

The project is being delivered by the Infrastructure Strategic Alliance, an alliance between Sellafield Ltd, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure and Arup.

After months of planning, six enormous boxes containing new generators, fuel tanks and roof assemblies were delivered to Sellafield in late 2024.

Each generator and fuel tank has a combined weight of approximately 117 tonnes and required a specialist 750 tonne crane to lift them into place.

Work is now underway to connect and test the generators to get them ready for operation.

This is another step towards ensuring the site will always have the power it needs, even in the event of a national grid shortage.

Paul Wells, construction manager for Sellafield, said, "We are a complex project with a huge footprint as we are routing, cabling and installing substations in different locations right across the site.

A vital part of our success has been the collaborative way in which our Sellafield construction team, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, Arup and our subcontractors have approached this project, enabling success and safe delivery, to a high standard at every milestone.

8 January 2025
A critical project to upgrade Sellafield's electrical power network has hit an important milestone.

The Electrical Distribution Network Upgrade Project, known as EDNUP, is working to refurbish the Sellafield site’s electricity system.

Teams working on the project installed 33 concrete base slabs last year, achieving a key target.

Laying slabs on a site as complex and congested as Sellafield is no easy job.

Each one relies on excavation work in areas with uncertain ground conditions. The team can encounter issues like unexpected pipes, cables, and even asbestos from the site’s earliest days.

When complete, EDNUP will play a key role in the refurbishment of Sellafield’s entire electricity network.

That will improve site resilience, bolster emergency power generation, and ensure new buildings can be connected to the power supply.

Jenifer Carruthers, Sellafield Ltd’s head of site management project office, said:

This is a huge success for a project delivering essential asset care, creating resilience, and developing new standby power capability across the electrical network.

Everyone on the team can be proud of the part they continue to play in delivering this mission critical project.

Teams delivering the work include the Infrastructure Strategic Alliance, a joint venture between Sellafield Ltd, Morgan Sindall, and ARUP (MSA).

Colleagues from Sellafield Ltd’s infrastructure and construction teams are also supporting the project.

In total, more than 500 interconnector bases are needed on the project. To date, 255 have been delivered.

They will support a staggering 750 kilometres of cabling. Enough to stretch from Sellafield to Land’s End, in Cornwall.

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PHOTO
Three of the six new generator modules at Sellafield