John Wood : Wood wins UK nuclear new build contract

Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe (HNE) has appointed Wood as architect engineering support partner to the Wylfa Newydd nuclear power plant project in the UK.

Effective immediately, the appointment is expected to transition into a 10-year framework, extending up to the start of commercial operations, once the project passes further key milestones in 2019.

Wood is responsible for supporting HNE in its architect engineer role on technical specifications, procurement and design integration as well as managing interfaces with the project management contractor and the plant owner, Horizon Nuclear Power.

Bob MacDonald, CEO of Wood Specialist Technical Solutions, said: 'We are looking forward to working with Hitachi on this project which is so important to the future energy security of the UK.

'Being selected for this work is an indication of the deep and broad technical knowledge of our 2,000 nuclear specialists. Many are internationally recognised experts with wide experience of design integration and delivering optimized solutions.'

HNE and Horizon Nuclear Power are proposing to build two UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactors at the new power station on Anglesey in North Wales. In June, the UK Government confirmed it was considering direct investment in the project in order to secure affordable supplies of low carbon power.

Wood's nuclear business can trace its heritage back to the early days of the nuclear industry. It has been involved in every UK nuclear power station project and continues to provide support services to reactor operators, developers and vendors on four continents.