Released October 21, 2010 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The U.K. government has given the go-ahead to eight of 11 locations for new nuclear power stations, as well as preliminary approval to the reactor designs of Areva SA (EPA:CEI) (Paris) and Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Monroeville, Pennsylvania).
The moves are designed to greatly speed up the rollout of new nuclear plants in the U.K., which is facing a looming energy crisis as older nuclear plants and fossil fuel-fired plants are due to shut down in the coming years. The government originally tipped 10 potential locations last November, but this has been reduced to eight. The goal is to get the first nuclear power plant up and running by 2018. For additional information, see November 11, 2009, article - U.K. to Build 10 New Nuclear Power Plants by 2025.
The eight locations given the green light are Bradwell, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Oldbury, Sellafield, Sizewell, and Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey. Braystones and Kirksanton in Cumbria have now been ruled because of concerns about whether they were credible for deployment by 2025 and the potential impact that they could have on the Lake District National Park. Last November, the government also ruled out the Dungeness site, which was turned down on the basis of environmental impact, coastal erosion and associated flood risk at the location.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has also announced that Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor and Areva's European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR) have been given regulatory justification, meaning that their benefits to the country's energy situation outweigh any "radiological health detriment they may cause."
"I'm fed up with the standoff between advocates of renewables and of nuclear, which means we have neither," Huhne told Parliament. "We urgently need investment in new and diverse energy sources to power the U.K. We'll need renewables, new nuclear, fossil fuels with CCS, and the cables to hook them all up to the grid as a large slice of our current generating capacity shuts down. The market needs certainty to make this investment happen, and we are determined to clear every obstacle in the way of this programme.
"So today we are setting out our energy need, which will help guide the planning process, so that if sound proposals come forward in sensible places, they will not face unnecessary hold-ups. And I am making clear that new nuclear will be free to contribute as much as possible with the onus on developers to pay for the cleanup."
According to the government, at least 25% of the U.K.'s electricity generating capacity needs to be replaced by 2020. Huhne has already warned that while the U.K. is dependent on imported energy for 27% of its needs right now, this could rise to anything from 46% to 58% within 10 years. The country's energy regulator, Ofgem, has predicted electricity blackouts could threaten the U.K. as early as 2016.
Last month, EDF Energy (London, England), the U.K. arm of French energy giant Electricite de France SA (EPA:EDF) (EDF) (Paris, France), announced that it had begun offering the U.K.'s first nuclear contracts in more than 20 years. The company granted preliminary contracts worth more than 59 million euros ($82.5 million) to companies involved in its proposed builds at Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C. For additional information, see September 20, 2010, article - EDF Energy Awards First U.K. Nuclear Contracts.
Last week, the Wylfa nuclear power plant in Wales was thrown a lifeline by being allowed to operate until at least 2012, having originally been scheduled for closure this December. For additional information, see October 14, 2010, article - Welsh Nuclear Plant Gets Two-Year Lifeline.
View Plant Profile - 1078414 1078429 1078215
View Project Report - 300009866 300009994 200006089
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
The moves are designed to greatly speed up the rollout of new nuclear plants in the U.K., which is facing a looming energy crisis as older nuclear plants and fossil fuel-fired plants are due to shut down in the coming years. The government originally tipped 10 potential locations last November, but this has been reduced to eight. The goal is to get the first nuclear power plant up and running by 2018. For additional information, see November 11, 2009, article - U.K. to Build 10 New Nuclear Power Plants by 2025.
The eight locations given the green light are Bradwell, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Oldbury, Sellafield, Sizewell, and Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey. Braystones and Kirksanton in Cumbria have now been ruled because of concerns about whether they were credible for deployment by 2025 and the potential impact that they could have on the Lake District National Park. Last November, the government also ruled out the Dungeness site, which was turned down on the basis of environmental impact, coastal erosion and associated flood risk at the location.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has also announced that Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor and Areva's European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR) have been given regulatory justification, meaning that their benefits to the country's energy situation outweigh any "radiological health detriment they may cause."
"I'm fed up with the standoff between advocates of renewables and of nuclear, which means we have neither," Huhne told Parliament. "We urgently need investment in new and diverse energy sources to power the U.K. We'll need renewables, new nuclear, fossil fuels with CCS, and the cables to hook them all up to the grid as a large slice of our current generating capacity shuts down. The market needs certainty to make this investment happen, and we are determined to clear every obstacle in the way of this programme.
"So today we are setting out our energy need, which will help guide the planning process, so that if sound proposals come forward in sensible places, they will not face unnecessary hold-ups. And I am making clear that new nuclear will be free to contribute as much as possible with the onus on developers to pay for the cleanup."
According to the government, at least 25% of the U.K.'s electricity generating capacity needs to be replaced by 2020. Huhne has already warned that while the U.K. is dependent on imported energy for 27% of its needs right now, this could rise to anything from 46% to 58% within 10 years. The country's energy regulator, Ofgem, has predicted electricity blackouts could threaten the U.K. as early as 2016.
Last month, EDF Energy (London, England), the U.K. arm of French energy giant Electricite de France SA (EPA:EDF) (EDF) (Paris, France), announced that it had begun offering the U.K.'s first nuclear contracts in more than 20 years. The company granted preliminary contracts worth more than 59 million euros ($82.5 million) to companies involved in its proposed builds at Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C. For additional information, see September 20, 2010, article - EDF Energy Awards First U.K. Nuclear Contracts.
Last week, the Wylfa nuclear power plant in Wales was thrown a lifeline by being allowed to operate until at least 2012, having originally been scheduled for closure this December. For additional information, see October 14, 2010, article - Welsh Nuclear Plant Gets Two-Year Lifeline.
View Plant Profile - 1078414 1078429 1078215
View Project Report - 300009866 300009994 200006089
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
