UK recycles 16,000 tons of demolished nuclear plant concrete for new reactor site

The UK is advancing sustainable construction in its nuclear sector by recycling over 16,500 US tons of concrete from the demolished Sizewell A nuclear plant for use at the new Sizewell C facility in Suffolk. This recycled material, after thorough processing and safety testing, is being used as a sub-base for foundation platforms at Sizewell C, reducing project costs, carbon emissions, and the demand for newly quarried aggregates. The demolition of Sizewell A’s turbine hall and adjacent buildings was completed efficiently using advanced demolition techniques, yielding over 18,700 US tons of concrete and debris, along with significant scrap metal and redundant cabling, all of which have been repurposed or sold to offset decommissioning expenses. Sizewell C is a planned 3,200 MWe nuclear power station featuring two European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) units, aiming to contribute about 7 percent of the UK’s electricity once operational. The project, backed by the UK government and several investors, received final