Kent pupils are EDF Energy’s lucky 100,000th visitors
Pupils from Greatstone Primary School and Marsh Academy accepted the honour together with Shaun Kirby, Head of Science at Marsh Academy who was officially recorded as 100,000th visitor.
The students were treated to Zingy cupcakes which they shared with EDF Energy’s Chief Executive Vincent de Rivaz to mark the occasion.
Vincent de Rivaz said: "These centres give people a chance to see what happens inside a nuclear power station and their success nationwide shows that we have delivered on our commitment to be open and transparent. The centres allow us to meet people, listen to what they have to say and answer any questions they may have about our stations, our business and the energy industry as a whole.”
Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe said: "Nuclear energy at Dungeness has long enjoyed strong community support and the excellent visitors centre has added to this. It has allowed thousands of visitors to see up close the work of the nuclear industry and I hope inspired many young people to be part of its future."
EDF Energy has opened a visitor centre at each of its seven nuclear sites and in July 2015 the eighth was opened at West Burton B CCGT power station.
The first centre at Hunterston, on the west coast of Scotland, opened in August 2012, the centre at Dungeness B was officially opened in February 2013.
The centres are part of the company’s efforts to be open to local communities and encourage people to see for themselves how electricity is produced.
All of the centres are free to visit and anyone can drop in to learn more about the way electricity is produced through interactive displays and activities suitable for all ages.
Tours of the sites, also free, can be booked in advance and take place following security clearance. They have proved popular with teachers with around two thirds of visitors come from school and educational groups.
Mr Kirby, Head of Science at Marsh Academy and the official 100,000th visitor said: “We have taken our students to visit Dungeness B for the last two years since it opened in 2013. As an educational trip, you can’t beat it. It’s fascinating for them and brings the subject of energy to life.”
Dungeness B has seen visitors from up and down the country as well as tourists from as far as Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. People of all ages come to see the centre and along with schools, groups that have visited include scouts, women’s institutes, rotary clubs and many more wanting to learn more about how nuclear energy is produced.
For more information contact:
Juliette SandersExternal Communications Manager - Generation
07875 112599
Juliette.sanders@edfenergy.com
EDF Energy in the South East
In the South East EDF Energy operates Dungeness B power station which employs over 500 staff and 200 contracting partners.
EDF Energy employs a further 2,500 staff in East and West Sussex with approximately 800 across sites in Crawley, Three Bridges, and East Grinstead and 1,700 across two of our three UK based call centres in Hove and Worthing..
As well as generating enough power to serve some 1.5million homes in this region the company also provides gas and electricity to 730,000 customers with over 20% of those opting for one of the company’s Blue+ products which are backed by low-carbon generation.
We make sure we buy enough electricity generated from a low-carbon nuclear source to match every unit of electricity we estimate our Blue customers use.
EDF Energy is proud to power up some of the largest companies in the UK, including sites for Tesco Stores Limited, Ministry of Defence and Morrisons right here in the South East.
Following a landmark agreement with Network Rail the company also provides nuclear-backed Blue energy to power up the UKs electric rail network, covering most of the south east of England and the main lines from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as the Merseyrail network around Liverpool and the Glasgow suburban network.