Staff sent home from nuclear power station after power lost and reactor trips

Staff at Hartlepool Power Station were sent home after one of two reactors unexpectedly tripped. The EDF-operated plant has two units which generate electricity, with reactor one already

shutdown for a maintenance outage. At about 10.30pm on Tuesday, June 3, an issue occurred in reactor two with a generator transformer, which connects the power generation to the electricity

grid. Reactor two automatically came offline, and tripped, when the issue occurred. Several Cleveland Fire Brigade crews attended the nuclear plant on Tees Road and remained on

"protective standby" until the early hours of Wednesday, June 4. EDF Energy said no fire was detected at the site. Some members of staff arriving on Wednesday morning were told to

go home and it is thought the supply may be not reinstated for a few days. An EDF spokesperson said: "Just after 10.30pm on Tuesday there was an issue with the generator transformer,

the piece of kit that connects Hartlepool Power Station to the grid, which caused a loss of power to site. "Back-up supplies started operating as planned and all staff were safely

accounted for. Work is underway to establish the cause of the issue.” A spokesperson for Cleveland Fire Brigade were called at 11.20pm and sent two appliances from Middlesbrough, two from

Stockton, two from Hartlepool and one from Billingham to the power station. They remained there until just after 3.40am. The facility, which began producing electricity in 1983, now powers

1.4 million homes. Last year it was announced the station in Hartlepool will produce power until March 2027, a year extension, meaning more than 3,000 jobs will also be kept on for longer.

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