By rosebell
Tunnelling has been completed for a fish return system at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in the UK, marking a major milestone in the project’s marine infrastructure works.
The 620m-long, 1.8m-diameter tunnel was excavated beneath the Bristol Channel in just five months. The tunnel forms part of the fish return system designed to support the environmental protection measures associated with the Hinkley Point C development.
TBM Sarah Guppy Completes Hinkley Point C Tunnel
The tunnel was excavated using TBM Sarah Guppy, which has now been retrieved from the seabed by a floating crane following completion of the drive.
The TBM will be cleaned and prepared for redeployment on another tunnelling project, allowing the machine to be used again following its work at Hinkley Point C.
620m Tunnel Beneath Bristol Channel
The newly completed tunnel extends for 620m beneath the Bristol Channel and has an excavation diameter of 1.8m. Completing the drive in five months represents a significant milestone for the specialist tunnelling works associated with the fish return system.
The completion of tunnelling allows the project to move forward with the remaining works required to bring the fish return system into operation.
Hinkley Point C Marine Works
The fish return tunnel forms part of the wider marine infrastructure at Hinkley Point C, which is being constructed on the Somerset coast in southwest England.
The tunnel will support the station’s fish return system, contributing to measures designed to manage the interaction between the nuclear power station’s cooling-water infrastructure and the marine environment.
With excavation complete, the focus will now shift to the next stages of construction and commissioning of the fish return system.
