Sizewell A concrete reused at Sizewell C

An innovative circular economy deal between Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) at Sizewell A and Sizewell C marks a significant step forward in sustainable construction, delivering savings and a major reduction in carbon emissions.  

The turbine hall at Sizewell A former nuclear power station, Suffolk has been demolished by NRS allowing more than 15,000 tonnes of crushed concrete from the turbine alternator plinths to be reused at Sizewell C. 

All recycled materials have undergone rigorous safety testing and have been transported just a few hundred metres up the coast to Sizewell C's Main Construction Area (MCA), where they're being repurposed as sub-bases for various foundation platforms. 

This landmark collaboration significantly reduces shared costs and carbon emissions, and the need for newly mined aggregates.

Damian Leydon, Site Delivery Director, Sizewell C, said: “This is another example of how Sizewell C is working with local projects to maximise benefits, not just for us, but for the local community. By reusing this material, we're reducing the number of trucks transporting aggregate through East Suffolk, while further reaffirming our commitment of minimising our environmental impact during construction. This is great news all round.”

Wendy Heath, NRS Senior Project Manager at Sizewell A, said: “This innovative approach has prevented 28 tonnes of CO₂ emissions by diverting waste from landfill, completing the circular economy for this material. This marks a first-of-its-kind achievement for NRS and showcases how collaborative working is enabling sustainable decommissioning. By reducing waste and minimising traffic on local roads, we're actively supporting the future of clean energy. It's a clear demonstration of NRS values in action - placing safety, sustainability, and community impact at the heart of everything we do.”

Senior representatives from the Environment Agency and the Local Authority approached the Sizewell C project team with the opportunity to repurpose this material, which would otherwise be treated as waste.

Since September, Sizewell A has been carrying out the crushing, testing, and certification of the concrete to ensure it meets the WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) Quality Protocol. Once certified, the material has then been transported to the Sizewell C site as recycled aggregate. Transfers are now complete.

This initiative has delivered multiple benefits:

• Cost savings: Reduced procurement costs from using locally sourced aggregate.

• Reduction: Reusing local material avoids the need to transport aggregates from other parts of the country, significantly cutting carbon emissions.

• Resource conservation: The reuse of demolition material prevents the need to extract new primary aggregates, preserving natural resources.

• Local impact: The material is locally sourced, supporting Sizewell C's UK content and Suffolk spend targets.

• Traffic reduction: Almost 800 vehicle movements will be confined to the vicinity of Sizewell A and Sizewell C, reducing construction traffic on local roads.

This collaboration between Sizewell A and Sizewell C demonstrates a shared commitment to sustainability, innovation, and responsible resource management.

Sally Coble, Nuclear Regulation Group Manager South, Environment Agency, said: “This is a great example of the Environment Agency's enabling approach to regulation. We worked with Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) and Sizewell C to facilitate the reuse of the Sizewell A turbine hall demolition waste. Reusing the crushed concrete as aggregate at Sizewell C is a sustainable approach to nuclear site decommissioning. We're continuing to influence NRS to ensure this approach is used, where possible, at all decommissioning sites.”

Councillor Tom Daly, East Suffolk Council Cabinet Member for Energy and Climate Change, added: “I am pleased that material from the decommissioned Sizewell A power station is being reused for Sizewell C. It's vital that every effort be made to minimise the impact of construction on the environment and local community.”

Watch the story unfold - Concrete recycling powers sustainability at Sizewell A and Sizewell C