EDF Case Study

Option 1:

Technical Case Study – AFDF CCTV System Upgrade, EDF Power Station

Project Overview

The existing analogue CCTV infrastructure within the Advanced Fuel Drying Facility (AFDF) fuel handling plant had reached the end of its operational life and no longer met the functional, safety, or image quality requirements of the facility. The legacy system suffered from degraded video performance, limited coverage, lack of resilience, and insufficient remote monitoring capability.

In response, the EDF Fuel Route Improvement Team initiated a project to replace the obsolete system with a secure, closed-network, IP-based megapixel CCTV solution capable of providing enhanced visual oversight of fuel assembly operations across the five-storey AFDF plant.

Operational Requirement

The primary purpose of the CCTV system is to enable continuous remote visual monitoring of nuclear fuel rod assembly activities prior to reactor loading. During operational cycles, radiological conditions within the AFDF can escalate to levels that prohibit physical access by EDF personnel to large areas of the five-storey structure.

Consequently, the replacement CCTV system was required to deliver:

• High-resolution image capture for detailed inspection of fuel assemblies
• Reliable performance in a challenging industrial environment
• Comprehensive coverage of all five landings
• Secure closed-network operation in line with site cybersecurity protocols
• Intuitive operator control for real-time situational awareness

The solution needed to mitigate risk to personnel while maintaining operational effectiveness and regulatory compliance.

System Design and Technology Selection

Based on the successful deployment of Avigilon video management technology elsewhere on the power station, EDF elected to standardise on the Avigilon platform for continuity, interoperability, and operational familiarity. This ensured consistency with existing site systems, reduced training requirements, and aligned with established IT security frameworks.

Given the vertical complexity and multi-level configuration of the AFDF plant, fixed cameras alone were deemed insufficient to meet the viewing and inspection requirements. To address this, the design incorporated Redvision IP PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras integrated with the Avigilon VMS.

This hybrid configuration enabled:

• Wide-area surveillance across each landing
• Precision zoom functionality for detailed examination of specific fuel components
• Dynamic tracking of operational activities across multiple levels
• Seamless integration with Avigilon’s recording, playback, and analytics capabilities

Two dedicated high-definition operator workstations were installed, each equipped with a joystick control keyboard. This allowed trained personnel to actively control camera movement, pan across structures, and rapidly focus on areas of interest in real time.

Testing, Commissioning, and Installation Methodology

To minimise risk to live operations and ensure system reliability, the complete CCTV solution was pre-built and fully commissioned within the AEL workshop environment prior to site deployment.

This process included:

• System architecture validation
• Camera integration testing
• Network performance assessment
• Recording and storage verification
• Operator interface configuration
• PTZ control calibration

Following successful factory acceptance testing, the system was delivered to site for final installation.

EDF Fuel Route personnel undertook the physical installation of cameras, cabling, and associated infrastructure within the AFDF plant. Throughout this phase, AEL provided structured remote technical support, including configuration assistance, troubleshooting, and system optimisation to ensure compliance with performance criteria.

Outcomes and Benefits

The upgraded CCTV system now delivers a resilient, high-definition surveillance capability that significantly enhances operational visibility within the AFDF. Key benefits include:

• Improved remote monitoring of fuel assembly processes
• Reduced reliance on physical access to high-radiation areas
• Enhanced operator situational awareness
• Greater system reliability compared to the legacy analogue installation
• A scalable platform for future technology integration

The project successfully modernised the AFDF’s visual monitoring infrastructure while aligning with EDF’s broader digital security and operational strategies.

Option 2:

AFDF CCTV Upgrade – EDF Power Station

EDF’s Advanced Fuel Drying Facility (AFDF) required a modern replacement for its ageing analogue CCTV system, which no longer delivered the image quality, coverage, or reliability needed to support safe fuel handling operations.

Working closely with EDF’s Fuel Route Improvement Team, AEL Systems designed and delivered a secure, closed-network IP CCTV solution that provides high-definition visual oversight across the five-storey AFDF plant.

The system is built around the Avigilon Video Management Platform, integrated with Redvision IP PTZ cameras to deliver wide-area coverage alongside precision zoom for detailed inspection of fuel assemblies. Operators control the system via two dedicated HD workstations with joystick control, enabling real-time situational awareness and rapid response to operational needs.

To minimise risk and disruption, the full system was factory-built and tested at AEL’s workshop before being deployed to site, with AEL providing structured technical support throughout installation and commissioning.

Outcomes:

• Safer operations with reduced need for personnel access to high-radiation areas
• Clearer, more reliable visual monitoring of fuel assembly processes
• A resilient, future-ready digital platform aligned with EDF’s security and operational standards