EDF Energy completed replacement and modernization of the Data Processing and Control Systems at Dungeness B nuclear power plant with Atos expertise

Paris, 28 June 2016 – When safety and security come first, one cannot afford to make mistakes, adoption and development require the utmost preparation and control. The life span extension of nuclear power plants that is happening worldwide, means the right expertise is needed to ensure modernization and replacement of obsolete systems to remain compliant to the latest regulations. Such a transition needs to be executed whilst guaranteeing productivity in all safety. Atos Worldgrid, an international subsidiary of Atos, is a unique player in smart energy with a strong footprint as a partner to accompany clients worldwide.

Smooth transition at EDF Energy
EDF Energy, the UK's largest producer of low-carbon electricity, wholly owned by EDF Group, commissioned Atos as prime contractor to lead the entire Data Processing and Control Systems (DPS)* replacement and modernization  project. Atos Worldgrid was responsible for the overall design and selection of replacement technologies, the implementation program and delivery at the Dungeness B nuclear power station in the UK. The replacement was carried out without interrupting plant operation and both legacy and replacement systems ran in parallel for ensured continuity prior to the actual switchover.

Training is critical
Under the contract, Atos Worldgrid managed the build, testing and commissioning of the new system.  The system is designed to meet EDF Energy's specifications supporting the operation of a nuclear plant. These specifications include adherence to stringent national and international standards. Atos worked closely with EDF Energy's design staff in achieving the necessary quality. Training for control room operators was critical, and Atos ensured that the new systems were fully integrated with the simulator environment well in advance of transition. This meant that all those affected by the change would be fully familiar with the new systems and interfaces before the switchover.

"Atos demonstrated strong technology capabilities through its extensive experience in the energy sector, together with the proven program management skills necessary to ensure the successful running of such a critical project," said Tony Williams, Group Head DPCS C&I Branch at EDF Energy. "We were particularly impressed by their strong partnership approach, as Atos Worldgrid experts worked side by side with us to achieve very high standards required for regulatory approval."

"The European energy industry is on the cusp of change, with a significant extension to accounting life of a plant. With our experience in implementing mission critical systems, where delivering high performance and availability is essential, we see huge potential for similar solutions to that at EDF Energy being rolled-out across other power stations in Europe". Jérôme de Parscau, CEO at Atos Worldgrid said. He continued: "The new Data Processing and Control System of Dungeness B in the UK has been accepted by the Safety Authorities and is now offered by Atos as a framework for best practice to help any nuclear power operator ensure that similar replacements or implementation of new built superannuated computer systems can be planned and executed safely and efficiently".

Atos at World Nuclear Exhibition
The Atos team of nuclear industry specialists – including expertise by Atos Worldgrid and Bull – will be present during World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE) that takes place in Paris 28 – 30 June, on stand M74 to discuss ' Nuclear power in the digital age' and h ow digitally-enhanced operations can best serve an industry which must balance continuity and change while never compromising safety . Focus will be on the following topics: Instrumentation & Control, Asset Lifecycle Management, Cybersecurity and Radiation Protection.

*The Data Processing and Control System (DPCS) is a key prime interface to the central control room – presenting information about current plant equipment status, critical automatic and sequence control and supervision functions. The system is being designed as a high availability and high performance system in support of safe, reliable operation of the power station. It met the requirements of the Office of Nuclear Regulation in terms of modern standards and production excellence.

About Atos
Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is a leader in digital services with pro forma annual revenue of circa € 12 billion and circa 100,000 employees in 72 countries. Serving a global client base, the Group provides Consulting & Systems Integration services, Managed Services & BPO, Cloud operations, Big Data & Cyber-security solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payments and transactional services industry. With its deep technology expertise and industry knowledge, the Group works with clients across different business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Media, Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications, and Transportation. Atos is focused on business technology that powers progress and helps organizations to create their firm of the future. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and is listed on the Euronext Paris market. Atos operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting, Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, Unify and Worldline. www.atos.com|Follow @Atos_com

Bull is the Atos brand for its technology products and software, which are today distributed in over 50 countries worldwide. With a rich heritage of over 80 years of technological innovation, 2000 patents and a 700 strong R&D team supported by the Atos Scientific Community, it offers products and value-added software to assist clients in their digital transformation, specifically in the areas of Big Data and Cybersecurity. Bull is part of Atos.  www.bull.com |Follow @Bull_com

About Atos Worldgrid
Atos Worldgrid, an international subsidiary of Atos, is a unique player in smart energy. With over 1,600 engineers and over 35 years' experience, Atos Worldgrid operates in more than 15 countries. It has in particular equipped 70 nuclear power units (representing over 15% of the worldwide nuclear power reactors) with its Supervision and Command & Control software in France, UK, Russia and China and delivered the world's largest smart metering system.

For more information, please contact:
Jose de Vries
+31 6 30 27 26 11
Jose.devries@atos.net