Stress Tests

In the wake of events at Fukushima, every nuclear power generating country in Europe agreed to carry out safety ‘stress tests’ under request of the European Council. The tests, completed by licensees, involve a targeted reassessment of each station’s safety margins in light of extreme natural events, such as earthquake and tsunami.

Given that the EC stress tests only focus on nuclear power plants, HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations decided to extend the stress test process to all other licensed nuclear installations within the UK. These licensed nuclear installations were designated as non nuclear power plants (non NPP) at publication time, now designated as non power generating nuclear facilities (NPGNF). This report is the progress report on stress tests as applied to UK non NPPs. It confirms that all of the UK licensees have initiated a stress test process in line with ENSREG specifications.

On this page you will find the final report for UK nuclear power plants, a progress report for non nuclear power plants, submissions from licensees as well as details of an invitation to a public meeting.

Nuclear Power Plants

European Council “Stress Tests” for UK Nuclear Power Plants

The stress tests can be summarised as a targeted reassessment of the relevant safety margins of NPPs in the light of the events which occurred at Fukushima: extreme natural events challenging the plant safety functions and leading to a severe accident.

All of the UK licensees of operating and defueling NPPs have undertaken programmes of work to complete all aspects of the stress tests and have provided contributions to the UK national report by the required timescales. These contributions by fulfilling the scope of the stress test include sensitive information regarding the systems necessary to ensure safety of the facility. ONR has had full and unfettered access to all of this information. In order to balance the requirement to protect sensitive information with the requirement to be as open as possible, links to redacted versions of all licensee contributions are available below.

Submissions from licensees

Magnox Sites:

EDF Energy sites:

Non Nuclear Power Plants

European Council 'Stress tests' for UK Non Nuclear Power Plants

Public meeting on the European stress tests & peer review process

On behalf of ENSREG and the European Commission I wish to invite you to the first public meeting on the reporting and follow up of the European stress tests and peer reviews on 17 January 2012.

The stress tests peer review programme adopted by ENSREG contains provisions on public engagement concerning the stress tests. In line with this document, ENSREG and the European Commission will host a public meeting open to regulators, operators, NGOs, the media and interested members of the public.

This meeting is intended to inform the public on the stress test and peer review process and to give civil society the opportunity to share its views.

More information on the stress tests and peer review work

This meeting will be a unique opportunity to review and discuss the stress tests and peer review process with a wide range of interested stakeholders.