Wales Chosen for UK's First New Nuclear Power Station

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The U.K.'s first new nuclear power plant in decades could be up and running in Wales within 10 years, according to plans by Horizon Nuclear Power (Gloucester, England).

The company, a joint venture between the U.K. subsidiaries of German energy majors RWE AG (OTC:RWEOY) (Essen, Germany) and E.ON AG (OTC:EONGY) (Dusseldorf, Germany), has announced it wants to build the nuclear plant at Wylfa, on the Isle of Anglesey, currently home to a nuclear power station that is scheduled for decommissioning next year. Horizon plans to submit a planning application by 2012, and the plant could be constructed and generating up to 3,300 megawatts (MW) of electricity by 2020.

Horizon wants to build another nuclear facility at a site in Oldbury, Gloucestershire, which it won in a fiercely fought online auction last May. The Oldbury plant will also have a generating capacity of 3,300 MW. For additional information, see May 1, 2009, article - U.K. Nuclear Sites Sell for $577 Million. The cost of both projects is estimated to be about £15 billion ($22.7 billion).

"New nuclear power would make a vital contribution to meeting the country's energy needs and tackling the challenge of climate change," said Alan Raymant, chief operating officer at Horizon. "Each development would deliver up to 800 direct permanent jobs, and around 5,000 during the construction period. This will bring a major economic boost to both local economies and cement their reputation as nuclear centres of excellence for generations to come."

Horizon is currently in discussions with nuclear manufacturers Areva SA (EPA:CEI) (Paris, France) and Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Monroeville, Pennsylvania), both of which are trying to get licences for their respective reactors in the U.K.

Raymant said, "This approach will allow us to incorporate the best-quality information in our selection and also fits with our time frame for delivery."

Horizon is not alone in trying to rejuvenate the U.K.'s ageing nuclear industry. Others lining up to take part in the new-build programme include Electricite de France SA (EPA:EDF) (Paris), which bought the 200-hectare Bradwell site, and a consortium comprising GDF Suez (EPA:GSZ) (Paris), Iberdrola Renovables SA (Valencia, Spain), and Scottish and Southern Energy plc (OTC:SSEZY) (Perth, Scotland). This consortium has agreed to pay £70 million ($106 million) for a site near Sellafield in Cumbria. For additional information, see November 2, 2009, article - Third Nuclear Player Enters U.K. Power Industry.

The U.K. government has set a target of building 10 new nuclear plants by 2025, according to the release of its draft Nuclear National Policy Statement in November last year. The 10 sites believed to be "potentially suitable" for new nuclear plants are: Bradwell, Braystones, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Kirksanton, Oldbury, Sellafield, Sizewell and Wylfa. In addition, the government also highlighted three alternate sites as being "worthy of further consideration." These are Druridge Bay in Northumberland, Kingsnorth in Kent, and Owston Ferry in South Yorkshire. However, these sites are not suitable in their current conditions. For additional information, see November 11, 2009, article - U.K. to Build 10 New Nuclear Power Plants by 2025.

Earlier this week, Sweden put forward legislation that could see it reverse its 30-year ban on new nuclear power plants. A vote on the controversial proposal will take place in June. For additional information, see March 29, 2010, article - Sweden's Nuclear Power U-turn Progresses.

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