YOUR MAGAZINE. YOUR STORIES. ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021

c o v e r f e a t u r e : Ewen Huffman o u t l o o k : Space weather f e a t u r e s : Customers I&C, CAP 2030 updates, Wythenshawe boiler rig

Keeping the faith C Chaplain, Ewen Huffman ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 NEWS 2 News round-up

Smart hits two million milestone Last month we installed our two millionth smart meter, which is a fantastic achievement! We’ve come a long way since smart first started back in 2015 and we now recognise that smart meters play a key role in our company purpose to help Britain achieve Net Zero. Listen to Director of Customer Operations, Jim Poole, Head of Smart Metering Programme, Martin Aylward, and Director of Smart Meter and EV Installation, Geoff Mills, share their thoughts on reaching this significant milestone in this short video.

We’re top dog West Burton decision confirms according to Uswitch commitment to Net Zero Uswitch has named us ‘Large Supplier of the Year’. In March, EDF made the decision to end power generation at In the biggest survey of its kind with over 17,000 people West Burton A in September 2022, two years ahead of the responding, we received a brilliant customer satisfaction score Government deadline for -fired power. Generation Managing of 75% − the highest of the major suppliers in this group. After Director, Matt Sykes, said: “I have nothing but respect and a year like no other, it’s great to be recognised for all our hard admiration for the dedication of the West Burton A team, which work; we’ve continued to deliver for our customers and come has collectively delivered enough power for all UK households for out on top. Well done to everyone. over four years. This is a truly incredible achievement.”

Sizewell C women scoop awards Women Powering Smart Energy is a networking forum giving businesswomen in the low-carbon and smart grid energy sectors the opportunity to share and collaborate. Each year they hold an awards ceremony and this year two women from EDF bagged awards. Julia Pike received the Outstanding Contribution award and Narmeen Rehman (pictured) won the Rising Stars accolade. Both are part of the Sizewell C project. Congratulations, Julia and Narmeen! ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 NEWS 3

Making nuclear more female friendly

Peace of mind for Sizewell C has signed up to the Nuclear Sector Deal target customers to achieve 40% of women We’ve teamed up with market leaders, in the nuclear industry by Domestic & General (D&G), who started 2030, and 50% of women providing a range of boiler and central apprenticeship starts by 2021. heating service plans and insurance from 2 Chair of the Sizewell C Gender March. D&G are the UK’s leading warranty Balance Network, Caroline provider, trusted by over 8 million customers. Powell (pictured), said: Their Gas Safe-registered engineers and “Sizewell C gives us an exciting four-star Trust Pilot-rated service will ensure opportunity to develop a our customers get the best possible service team which reflects society - and avoid the stress of a boiler on the blink. balanced. Underpinning this Insurance Manager, Michelle Garcia, said: positive ethos with firm sector “We’ve been through an intensive tender targets is an important step in process to ensure our new provider brings our journey towards gender a wealth of expertise and opportunities balance.” to support our broader heat strategy and provide the best experience for our customers. We’re delighted to have signed the contract with Domestic & General.”

Nuclear safety is our overriding priority On 11 March 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean created a tidal wave that struck the east coast of Japan, triggering the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. Remembering industry and world-changing events such as this and Chernobyl, which marks 35 years this month, helps to reinforce the need to maintain a strong nuclear safety culture. It also reminds us of the personal responsibility we all share as nuclear professionals to ensure it never happens again. You can see the Generation team’s virtual exhibition on Fukushima here.

Philippe Commaret first ‘castaway’ in Desert Island Development The People Development team have recently launched their podcast series called Desert Island Development. In the first episode they chatted to Customers MD, Philippe Commaret, who talked about his career, development and journey with learning. There’s also a second episode featuring Transformation Programme Manager, Ann Roberts. You can listen to her podcast here and Philippe’s is available here. ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 SPOTLIGHT 4

An interview with Ewen Huffman

PROFILE

Role Hinkley Point C Chaplain Previous roles It’s about looking after Baptist Minister in Watford, Carshalton Beeches, Winchester and Taunton the whole person

Education University of Kent In conversation with Hinkley Point C Theological College Chaplain, Ewen Huffman

Expert in Electrical engineering Electronics research Thanks for talking to Connect, Winchester. Then I moved to have a good sense of overall Pastoral care Ewen. Tell us about your Creech St. Michael Baptist wellbeing. They saw a need for Spiritual guidance background. Have you been Church near Taunton, and that a chaplain and appointed me. I part of the church for long? was my post before I ended up think it’s very pioneering and it’s I was born not far from Hinkley here at Hinkley Point C. gone astonishingly well so far. Point, so I’m back where I started. We moved east to Why did the project feel the What does a typical day Bishop’s Stortford and later on need to appoint a chaplain? on site look like? I studied electrical engineering HPC has a desire to care for I’ll give you my day yesterday: at the University of Kent. That’s the whole person. We’ve got Just as I was leaving home where I found my faith, so that Hinkley Health here where you I got a message to contact was the turning point for me. can go for your physical needs someone who’s been working In 1987, after a few years in and we have over 300 Mental on site. They are isolating, electronics research, I went to Health First Aiders, helping with again, and it’s really affecting theological college and since mental wellbeing. However, their headspace. So as soon then I’ve led churches in Bushey people are spiritual beings as as I arrived at work I phoned near Watford, Carshalton well and the project recognised them for a chat. At midday I Beeches near Sutton, and that those with faith often led prayers with the Christian ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 COVER FEATURE 5

community. Some people dial in or, if they’re in the north building bubble, we meet Did you know? physically. I then had two Ewen is the first salaried meetings - one to speak with chaplain to the UK someone who has some big construction industry. spiritual questions, the other A pioneering appointment! to help a worker with their wellbeing. Later I dialled into a Mental Health First Aider call to check up on how everyone is and had an online planning meeting with the two leaders of our Muslim community, to Interestingly, Baptists were plan the Eid meal in June. the first people in the 17th As I’m employed by the Century to fight for religious Diocese of Bath and Wells, I freedom, and I’m an ordained then had a chaplaincy catch up Baptist Minister employed for that. I finished my day with by the Church of England. some online training followed What we work on at HPC is by another pastoral call, and a principle of understanding then down to the Hinkley and mutual respect and I hope campus for a drop-in in the we can increase dialogue with evening. That was a busier day members of other faiths so we than normal! can understand one another better. Tell us more about the Christian group you started. How does it feel being part I’ve simply gathered together of the biggest construction those on site who profess to site in Europe? be Christians. I’d say a small I love it because, really, I’m a number have re-found their geek! I’m back doing what I faith and some have found did when I was 24 - caring for their Christian faith for the first people in the workplace. I feel so well. It was the right thing time. We pray three times a at home in this environment “I’m a one-man for me to do. week using old Celtic liturgy because I’m an engineer and from the 3rd Century, along the novelty of this place still ecumenical movement. How do you look after your with our own prayers. We pray hasn’t worn off. It thrills me I’m a Baptist Minister own wellbeing in these for the needs of people on site when I get my PPE on and I go seconded to the times? and, always, for our leaders. It’s out on site. I understand some Anglican Church and My faith is the major source of short and sharp and lasts for of the things they’re talking my strength, as are my wife and about 12 minutes. It’s a lovely, about and the work they’re paid for by Hinkley two daughters. I love music and supportive and growing group doing and I love it! Point C.” I exercise by running or cycling. of people. When I’m really under stress, I How has the pandemic turn to weightlifting. What about workers on impacted the work you do site from other faiths and on site? What would your three denominations? I think it accelerated the desert island discs be? There’s a Muslim group led by process of acceptance to having “The Long and Winding Road” two colleagues and in my early a chaplain on site. I joined just by the Beatles and “Lovely days we really gelled because as Covid-19 started and most much of the time praying about Day” by Bill Withers. I would at that point I hadn’t identified people on site agree that it what I should do next in my also say the Boys Town Gang many Christians on site and it really was the right time to career. When I came back, version of “Can’t Take My Eyes was nice to be with people who appoint a chaplain. I’ve been I received an email from my Off Of You”. actually believed something. I staggered at how people on regional minister telling me would say I’m a rallying point site have risen to the challenge about the chaplaincy post at What TV dramas have kept for people of other traditions in a safe and professional way. Hinkley Point C. So it somehow you going during the latest - a chaplain to all faiths and In 2019 I walked the dovetailed in with my timetable lockdown? none. I understand and 500 miles of the Camino de and did exactly the same with The Queen’s Gambit, The respect other people’s beliefs. Santiago in Spain and I spent this pandemic - and it’s worked Woods and Modern Family. ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 SPOTLIGHT 6 Moving forward as One I&C

I&C Operations A couple of years ago, Power Purchase Agreement Director, Mark Industrial & Commercial (PPA) market. With this, (I&C) Operations and Sales & working alongside the skilled Loveday, and Marketing came together to teams in Wholesale Markets I&C Sales & create a One I&C community. Optimisation, I&C supports Mark says: “We wanted the development of renewable Marketing to break down any silos generation capacity by agreeing Director, Matt between the two teams and to buy the output from work closely together to renewable generators – from a Nunn, talk about reduce cost, create capacity single solar panel on an office I&C Operations Director, working together and deliver the products building to large offshore wind Mark Loveday and services our customers farms. We’re already a top as One I&C and want. By collaborating closely three player in this market and the opportunities together, we’ve moved forward looking forward we have a solid as one team and have really plan of where we’ll focus our that brings. strengthened our position in efforts next. the market.” Supplier of choice So, where are we now? The impressive progress made The combined efforts of the by I&C has grown its reputation two teams are already paying in the market, meaning that off – making it even easier for businesses are putting their I&C Sales & Marketing customers to deal with us and trust in the team and making Director, Matt Nunn improving sales performance. In us their supplier our traditional electricity supply of choice. Since October last activities, we’ve maintained our year, the number of MPANs position as the largest supplier (electricity points) we supply Did you know? of zero-carbon electricity to the electricity to has increased The new connections UK I&C market, really helping from 152,000 to 186,000. carried out by the I&C our customers to decarbonise And over the last year they’ve New Supply and ESD their businesses. won and renewed contracts Metering teams at ’s But I&C isn’t just about with some of the biggest Nightingale Hospital were electricity supply. On top of household names. They’re turned around and metered this, they’re working with incredibly proud to supply within three days of the teams across Customers to electricity to companies such as request; this would normally develop several other areas Tesco, Amazon and Brewdog, take three weeks. and a particularly exciting as well as huge public-sector one right now is the Export organisations including Crown

Where we’re leading… Our focus areas…

Zero carbon Export Metering Flexibility EV solutions PV (solar) Carbon electricity purchase PPA and data solutions We’ll bring Bring the credits supply (Power Purchase Increase no of Continue our Pod Point capabilities Help customers Bringing Agreement) MPANs serviced growing our products to of ADFR and offset any customers a Capitalise on and add value portfolio our I&C our other remaining range of zero the increasing for I&C from 189MW customer base partners to emissions carbon power UK renewable customers to 685MW meet customers’ by providing options capacity in 2024 needs carbon credits ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 SPOTLIGHT 7

“We are strongly committed to the future of this business and the £10m we’re investing in the Future IT project to replace our core I&C systems is one way we’re really setting ourselves up for success.”

I&C Sales & Marketing Director, Matt Nunn

THE I&C ROADMAP

– Maintaining the One I&C In doing this, Matt can see a culture which is very much really bright future for One focused on results while I&C: “We’re already helping fostering an environment businesses and the public that people really want to sector to achieve Net Zero These are just a handful of the household names be a part of. and there is a lot more we our I&C business supplies with electricity. – Build on the market- can do here,” he says. “We leading positions we’ve are strongly committed to developed in zero-carbon the future of this business Commercial Service, Network time it would normally take, electricity supply and and the £10m we’re investing Rail and Scottish Procurement. while also adapting to working several other areas. in the Future IT project from home, really helping the – Bring the capabilities to replace our core I&C Last year and the country to ‘keep the lights on’. of Group companies systems is one way we’re impact of Covid-19 The team is incredibly proud such as Pod Point to I&C really setting ourselves up they were able to respond customers. for success. We know that Many businesses across the to so many critical requests – Progress the Future IT by collaborating across I&C, country were hit by the impact from customers who needed project to offer a more and with our wider EDF of the pandemic, including help. Some were particularly reliable and easier to flex colleagues, we can succeed many of I&C’s customers. urgent, such as connecting IT application. so we’ll continue to build on In total, the team supplies and supplying Covid-19- – Grow digital capability and this and end 2021 in an even energy to around 260,000 critical buildings and front-line introduce more automated stronger position. companies and throughout last organisations. These included processes to deliver an year, many of them adapted Nightingale hospitals, new even better customer their business to support the research labs for scientists experience. nationwide efforts of managing working to create a vaccine, – Improve debt-collection the pandemic, choosing to schools all over the country performance. support with vital equipment for key worker children, and services. For example, Highways England and other Brewdog started making hand pharmaceutical companies to sanitizer which they donated name just a few. to the NHS, the British Heart Foundation supported research Looking ahead projects and the Royal Mint The team has started this supplied almost two million year with a clear purpose medical visors. of recovering its financial When I&C were asked to position while at the same time help, their teams pulled out thinking about the long term all the stops. They responded and achieving our purpose of to meet every deadline and helping British businesses and managed to complete urgent the public sector achieve Net requests in a fraction of the Zero. ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 FEATURE 8 EDF Group reinforces its CAP 2030 strategy

Recent updates to our Group-wide strategy ensure we’re better aligned with an ever-changing energy landscape.

Launched in 2015, CAP 2030 – Extend the operation of our low-carbon infrastructure are is EDF’s Group-wide strategy. It What are the main changes French nuclear fleet to over mirrored in the recent 10 Point sets out in detail our plans for compared to 2015? forty years. We’ll achieve this Plan: more wind, nuclear, solar, the next decade and outlines the CAP 2030 has made great by successfully implementing storage, hydrogen, electric Group we want to be by 2030. progress since 2015, notably the fleet overhaul programme heating, energy efficiency with the launch of Group’s - Grand Carénage. and electric vehicles. You Why reinforce four industrial plans (solar, – Divest our coal-based can find out more about the CAP 2030 today? storage, electric mobility, and generation assets by 2030. Government’s 10 Point Plan Since 2015 and the launch of excell). However, in order to – Commission five EPRs by viewing our short video. CAP 2030, the energy industry continue to reflect the energy by 2030. These include has been in a state of constant landscape in which we operate, Flamanville 3 and Hinkley We’re all a part change: renewable together with the urgency for Point C, in addition to the of CAP 2030 are developing faster; the first climate action, EDF Group has two Taishan EPRs in China Understanding our strategic European Pressurised Reactors decided to reinforce its CAP and the construction of direction helps us all make the (EPRs) have been put in service 2030 strategy with new and new EPRs plus an SMR right decisions when it comes in China; new businesses are enhanced targets. demonstrator. to our day-to-day operations emerging, such as hydrogen, – Triple international so it’s important to familiarise electric mobility, and storage; – New targets to reduce our business compared to yourself with the new and our customers’ expectations CO2 emissions. This includes 2015, particularly in terms enhancements to our Group- around taking control of a reduction of our direct of renewables, network wide strategy. To get started, their energy consumption, emissions by 50% against activities, and off-grid kit head to our Enzo page on CAP through digital technology, are 2017 and our indirect installation. 2030 where there’s a short increasing. Society’s concerns emissions by 28% against video and a slide deck which about climate change are also 2019, as well as those caused What does this mean explain the recent updates growing. by our customers. for the UK? clearly. You can then schedule Another major change for – Become a benchmark player in Here in the UK, our company a conversation with your EDF has been the introduction reducing the carbon intensity purpose, Helping Britain manager or team. of Group’s raison d’être – to of society. This means creating Achieve Net Zero, continues build a Net Zero energy future value for our customers to align with CAP 2030 and with electricity and innovative through the energy and we’ve implemented a specific solutions and services, to innovative services we provide set of milestones for 2023 to help save the planet and them. make sure we remain on track. drive wellbeing and economic – Step-up the development of We’re also aligned with the For more information about development for our climate installed renewable capacity. UK Government’s strategy for our EDF in the UK strategy, commitment. This was adopted The new target is 60GW a green recovery and it was head to our strategy page. in May 2020 and it binds us to (net) of renewable capacity hugely encouraging to see achieving carbon neutrality in worldwide, which is more than our plans to enable £50bn 2050. double compared to 2015. of investment in Britain’s ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 OUTLOOK 9

Cosmic world Protecting stations from extra-terrestrial weather phenomena.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

A cosmic lightshow anomalous readings or even fail it last, and which parts of the 2025 will be the best chance Are you lucky enough to have completely. country is it most likely to hit? this decade to see the seen the northern lights? They For everyday electronic northern lights in the UK. occur when extremely energetic devices the risk of failure due Innovative thinking December through March subatomic particles, known to space weather is very small. Space weather monitoring is usually the best time. as cosmic rays, eject from the However, at EDF’s energy- devices around the country Sun during a solar flare. When generating assets, a failure of have only been around for a they interact with the air high safety-critical electronics isn’t few years, and analysing the in the Earth’s atmosphere they an option. Space weather is a data from these devices can produce a brilliant lightshow. small-probability, high-severity only take us so far. To get an The Earth’s magnetic field event that requires a research- accurate picture of the risk, we to predict how the high funnels these particles to light based approach to protect need to think outside the box. currents induced by space the skies above the north and against. When cosmic rays from weather are dissipated. This will south poles. a large solar storm hit the give a better understanding of Space weather R&D Earth’s atmosphere, they create which parts of the network are The Sun as a natural hazard Unique in the UK energy sector, unique chemicals in the air most at risk of damage during But there is a darker side to EDF leads a portfolio of space (separate to GLE particles), a once-in-a-lifetime solar storm. these solar flares – known as weather research projects which settle onto ice sheets Most days the Sun is calm space weather. About once which build resilience in the and are absorbed by trees. and predictable. But every a year, some of the particles EDF energy ecosystem. By measuring the quantity of so often when solar flares they contain reach the Earth in Matthew Allcock is the these chemicals in the ice and send cosmic rays earthward, what’s known as a ground level space weather specialist in the in old trees, we can estimate EDF needs to be prepared. enhancement (GLE) - sudden Natural Hazards research team the severity of the solar storms With specialist researchers increases in the cosmic ray in EDF’s R&D UK Centre and he going back thousands of years. in the Natural Hazards team intensity. Fortunately, these leads the research support for working with leading academic particles travel straight through teams across EDF Group. They Protecting the network collaborators and implementing humans but electronic devices use a data-driven approach In 2021, the Natural Hazards cutting-edge simulation aren’t so lucky. During the to answer questions like: how team are developing software software and statistics, the most extreme space weather severe will a once-in-a-lifetime to simulate the whole electricity safety of our energy system is events, they can produce solar storm be, how long will network in the UK and France in good hands. ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 FEATURE 10 End of an era Final test marks the closure of an unsung Generation facility.

Tucked away in a quiet well run and maintained Jones. “On numerous occasions industrial estate near for EDF by Jacobs and its it has provided key data and “Not many people Manchester is an important predecessor companies since chemistry insight that has EDF test facility that has been 2000. However, after a robust allowed us to proactively will be aware of working to keep the company’s decision-making process it manage our plant and safety power stations running for over was decided to close the rig in case challenges. The technical the crucial work 40 years. The Wythenshawe 2021 and in doing so save the teams within EDF, and our the boiler rig has boiler rig is a full-scale facility business around £1.5m a year. partners Jacobs, deserve that has seen numerous vital Among many highlights, recognition for their dedicated carried out behind tests carried out to give an the boiler rig supported the efforts over the years in the in-depth understanding of first ‘chemical clean’ of an AGR operation and management of the scenes since what’s happening and what boiler. It helped to establish this strategic R&D asset.” its first test in might happen inside EDF’s a boiler maintenance process Through strong advanced gas cooled reactor known as ‘amine dosing’ which collaboration and commitment 1979. It accurately (AGR) boilers. has been used at Hartlepool from the teams, the and Heysham 1 for well over Wythenshawe boiler rig has replicated the Proud 40-year service ten years. It also helped to played a key role in ensuring thermohydraulic Wythenshawe’s tests have investigate the potential of the company’s AGR boilers played an important role alternative, less hazardous have operated safely for many conditions inside in optimising and enabling chemicals. Having a facility that decades. The Wythenshawe continued boiler operation creates the exact conditions boiler rig covered both an AGR boiler tube, at the AGRs throughout their inside an operating boiler serpentine and helical boiler allowing us to lives. But after more than has been invaluable and has tests and the results have 40 years of operation, the provided ‘station-ready’ data been fundamental in keeping precisely evaluate Jacobs-operated facility has that modelling or conventional the stations’ boilers in top the effects run its last test as the AGRs experimental facilities could not condition over the years. reach the later stages of their have provided. The business will be of chemistry operational lives. “It’s easy to underestimate working over the coming Originally part of the the impact of the boiler rig,” months to safely decommission conditions and so Central Electricity Generating says Generation R&D and the rig and return the site to its define chemistry Board, the boiler rig has been Innovation Manager, Richard original state. regimes for the stations that support safe, reliable operation and lifetime ambitions.”

Generation Chief Chemist, Andy Rudge ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 COMMUNITIES 11

Communities update

Get fit, Hove style!

During the pandemic, many employees have taken up running as part of their daily routine to keep fit and maintain a positive wellbeing. Hove-based Stuart Roberts (pictured) is a keen runner and has been selected for EDF’s Marathon place in support of Prostate Cancer UK on 3 October. As part of his charity fundraising, he’s setting up a Couch to 5k group and hopes as many employees from the Hove office will join. The nine-week programme includes three runs per week and it’ll be supported by a virtual cheer-leading squad, led by Stuart. The squad will meet regularly on Teams to talk about progress, tips and wellbeing. And while there’s no obligation to join these weekly sessions, Stuart hopes they become an enjoyable part of the challenge. He’s also hoping to garner support from the wider EDF community and anyone taking part is encouraged to post their progress on social media. Who knows, there may even be an occasional video message from well-known Prostate Cancer UK personalities! The challenge is open to all Hove-based walkers/runners who want to follow the NHS Couch to 5k programme. If there’s enough interest from other sites then it may be expanded. If you fancy taking part, simply fill in this online form to receive your invite. An email is also being sent out to Hove employees soon. There’s a suggested donation of £5 when you sign up although this isn’t compulsory. All funds raised will go towards London Marathon fund-raising.

Bee-autiful Heysham Thousands of children will be joined by new schoolmates in the form of honey bees this summer, thanks to a joint project by Heysham power stations and The Bee Centre. The power stations are continuing to work with the Lancashire-based organisation to create a new, natural habitat for thousands of bees - and aim to provide colonies to local schools in the coming months. Building on work already carried-out to help the local bee community to thrive, The Bee Centre is strengthening its links with the power stations’ visitor centre in efforts to encourage even more bees to make Heysham their home in 2021 and beyond. ISSUE 109 / APRIL 2021 BIG PICTURE 12

The grand total EDF has donated to so far Prostate Cancer UK £250,955 Thanks to everyone!

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