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.
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:
The solution needed to mitigate risk to personnel while maintaining operational effectiveness and regulatory compliance.
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:
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.
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:
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.
The upgraded CCTV system now delivers a resilient, high-definition surveillance capability that significantly enhances operational visibility within the AFDF. Key benefits include:
The project successfully modernised the AFDF’s visual monitoring infrastructure while aligning with EDF’s broader digital security and operational strategies.
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: