The UK's gas and electricity markets regulator, Ofgem, has granted an electricity generating licence to Bradwell Power Generation Company Ltd, which is proposing to construct the new Bradwell B nuclear power plant in Essex. 

The company submitted its application to Ofgem in June and it was made it available for on the Ofgem website for comments until 18 August. The licence, authorises Bradwell B "to generate electricity in the area specified in Schedule 1 for the purpose of giving a supply to any premises or enabling a supply to be so given”.

Bradwell Power Generation CEO Alan Raymant said: "The generating licence is one of many licences and permits we will need in order to develop, construct and operate Bradwell B. We will continue to work diligently, developing our proposals and building our team to demonstrate to the various regulatory bodies how we will deliver this vital piece of the UK's national energy infrastructure."

The proposed NPP at Bradwell will feature China’s Hualong One reactor design.

China General Nuclear (CGN), under a strategic investment agreement signed in October 2016, agreed to take a 33.5% stake in EDF Energy's Hinkley Point C project in Somerset, as well as to jointly develop nuclear plants at Sizewell in Suffolk and Bradwell in Essex. The Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C plants will feature France's EPR reactor technology.

CGN has established a joint venture company with EDF Energy to seek regulatory approval for a UK version of the HPR1000 (Hualong One) design, which is currently undergoing Generic Design Assessment.

Photo: The HPR1000 reactor is planned for Bradwell B (Credit: CGN/EDF Energy)