Member Article

Caulmert awarded two-year project to monitor airborne salt at Wylfa Newydd site

Environmental planning specialist Caulmert is investigating airborne salt concentrations at the site of the proposed Wylfa Newydd power station on Anglesey.

The environmental study monitors the levels of salt in the air on site and the effects it may have on a range of materials and coatings.

Caulmert’s research, carried out in partnership with global consultancy Amec Foster Wheeler, will help project developer Horizon ensure its construction machinery and equipment, is suitably protected from the local environment.

As well as measuring degradation caused by airborne salt, the study involves monitoring salt deposition rates and the concentration of salt in the air.

Caulmert is also analysing and recording meteorological data from an on-site weather station.

Horizon Nuclear Power aims to begin the first nuclear generation of electricity from the UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactor technology at Wylfa Newydd in the first half of the 2020s.

Principal environmental scientist Jim McClymont said: “The construction period of the power station will span a number of years, thus it is essential that research is undertaken to explore the potential local environmental impacts and look to match the equipment specification accordingly.

“The project started in February this year, and will run for two years being completed in February 2017.

“This will provide a suitable length of time to analyse the environmental effects.

“Being a North Wales business, we have been able to bring our local knowledge to this project. Two environmental scientists from our Bangor office visit the site for a fortnight every two months, and they’ll be visiting regularly until the project ends.

“The findings will then be presented to Horizon along with advice regarding the protection of their machinery and equipment against the local conditions.”

The Wylfa Newydd project will create up to 1,000 permanent jobs, with a construction workforce of around 4,000 workers for the majority of the time, potentially reaching 8,500 workers during peak periods.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .