Hinkley Point C earthworks slope protection

Overview

Hinkley Point C is the first nuclear power station to be constructed in the UK in a generation. Once complete it will generate 7% of the UK’s total electricity requirements.

In order to facilitate the construction of the power station, large and complex excavations where required in which to build the foundations. Over 5.6m m³ of rock was excavated creating over 100,000m² of vertical rock faces up to 30m in height. A slope protection design was developed based on a philosophy of a passive support system to ensure the stability of the faces during the construction period. The design needed to be robust, yet efficient and adaptable to ensure that once exposed, faces of differing geology could be quickly stabilised using the appropriate level of support to avoid delay to the construction programme.

The lecture will be preceded by a short AGM of the British Geotechnical Association (BGA).