Horizon and Exelon Partner to Advance Wylfa Newydd Project

Horizon Nuclear Power and Exelon Generation announced a partnership to advance Horizon’s progress towards becoming a world class nuclear operator.

Exelon Generation, a leader in nuclear safety and operational excellence, operates the largest fleet of nuclear plants in the United States. This new operating partnership brings Exelon’s experience to Horizon as it grows its own expertise and capability to operate a next generation nuclear power station at Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey, North Wales.

A team of four Exelon specialists, with over a century of collective experience, will work alongside Horizon’s growing team, providing expertise in engineering, maintenance, operations and training. The Exelon team will support Horizon’s Safety & Generation Director, Greg Evans, himself a veteran nuclear operator, as Horizon develops its own nuclear operating model.

Duncan Hawthorne, Chief Executive Officer at Horizon said: “We aim to make Horizon a world-leading nuclear operator and to be the best, you have to learn from the best. With its proven expertise and decades of experience, Exelon will be a vital part of our success. Alongside our own expert people, they will form a team that will ready us to successfully run Wylfa Newydd even as we continue to progress towards its construction.”

“This is an exciting opportunity to share Exelon Generation’s industry-leading technical and operational experience with Horizon as they move forward with plans to build and operate a world class nuclear facility,” said Mike Pacilio, Exelon Generation Chief Operating Officer. “We look forward to expanding our presence in the UK and leveraging Exelon’s proven nuclear management model and exceptional workforce to advance operational excellence around the globe.”

Exelon Generation operates the largest fleet of carbon-free nuclear plants in the U.S., with 19,460 megawatts of capacity from 22 reactors at 13 facilities in Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and New Jersey. Eight of Exelon’s nuclear facilities are boiling water reactors. The Wylfa Newydd project will deploy two Advanced Boiling Water Reactors, representing the next generation of reactor technology.

Horizon is aiming to bring in a number of global partners to help it grow into a successful nuclear operator. The partners will be selected to help in a number of key areas including operations and maintenance, BWR experience, UK licensing expertise, and training. Working alongside key North Wales-based training providers, the partners will help ensure the transfer of global excellence in nuclear operator skills to Horizon’s growing team on Anglesey and at its Gloucester HQ.

Image: How the Wylfa Newydd plant could look alongside the existing Wylfa plant (Source: Horizon)