Thales support for control systems to help extend the life of EDF Energy’s UK nuclear power stations
Basingstoke, 29th July 2014 – Thales has been awarded a 10-year contract to support computerised control system services at all but two of EDF Energy’s nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom. The Long Term Support contract, worth over £30m, was awarded by EDF Energy as part of their continuing commitment to securing the UK’s future energy generation requirements.
The extended safe operation of the nuclear generation fleet is an essential part of securing the UK’s energy future until the next generation of nuclear power stations comes on line.
The power stations’ Data Processing and Control Systems are high capital value assets that are technologically complex and critical to operations. Thales was selected by EDF Energy in part because of its 30 years’ experience of developing, managing and delivering data process and control systems into the nuclear industry. Thales is well known in the nuclear industry for its integration of holistic security systems and for its industrial cyber-security expertise.
Nigel Houlton, Head of Lifetime Programmes at EDF Energy, said: “EDF Energy’s strategy is to extend the life of our existing nuclear powers stations where it is safe and economically viable to do so. The existing nuclear stations supply nearly 9GW of safe, reliable and low carbon electricity to the national grid and therefore have a vital role to play in maintaining the security of our electricity supply.”
Phil Naybour, Vice President, Secure Communications and Information Systems, Thales UK, said: “This long-term support contract will help to secure the immediate future of the UK’s energy requirements, by allowing EDF Energy to deliver on its plans to extend the safe operation of its nuclear power stations. This positive development is a result of a strong long-term partnership between Thales and EDF Energy. Together with the recent award of a separate contract to deliver new Deployable Communications and Information Systems, this demonstrates the confidence that EDF Energy has in Thales as a leading provider of support, communications and security services to the UK’s nuclear industry.”
Thales’s Long Term Support contract will ensure the safe operation of the data processing and control systems across most of EDF Energy’s UK fleet (all sites, except Sizewell and Dungeness). It will deliver the following support services primarily from the Cheadle site: Specialist Software, Database and System support along with an iterative process of fault investigation, spares analysis, obsolescence monitoring and supply chain evaluation.
Thales is also delivering 5 sets of containerised Deployable Communications and Information Systems, as part of EDF Energy’s plans to strengthen further the resilience of the UK nuclear power stations. The DCIS system integrates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment to provide a modern high assurance, rapidly deployable communications capability, in the highly unlikely event that a response to a major emergency event should ever be required. Enhancing such capabilities to be able to respond to an extreme natural event was a key international recommendation following the impact of the Japanese earthquake on the nuclear plant in Fukushima.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader in the Aerospace, Transportation and Defence & Security markets. In 2013, the company generated revenues of €14.2 billion with 65,000 employees in 56 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers and local partners.
Thales UK employs 7,500 staff based at 35 locations. In 2013 Thales UK’s revenues were around £1.3 billion.
Thales develops urban security and critical infrastructure security systems (for airports, sensitive sites and energy installations), homeland security systems (ID management and border surveillance systems, etc.) and military command information and intelligence systems. These solutions support quick decision-making, providing users with clear, relevant and immediate information about their environment.
