Hinkley Point C nuclear power station: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 51°12′22″N 3°08′34″W / 51.2061°N 3.1429°W / 51.2061; -3.1429
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EDF plans to use [[Areva|Areva NP]]'s [[European Pressurized Reactor|EPR]] design for any new build reactors in the UK. The first commercial EPR power stations are currently being built at [[Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant]] in Finland and [[Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant]] in France.<ref name="new dawn for Uk nuclear power" /> The EPR design can use [[enriched uranium|5% enriched uranium oxide]] fuel, optionally with up to 50%&nbsp;[[MOX fuel|mixed uranium plutonium oxide]] fuel.<ref name=UK-EPR-safety>{{Cite document |url=http://www.epr-reactor.co.uk/scripts/ssmod/publigen/content/templates/show.asp?P=139&L=EN |title=UK EPR Safety, Security and Environmental Report&nbsp;— submission to UK Health and Safety Executive |date=2007|publisher=Areva NP and EDF|accessdate=16 April 2008 |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> The EPR is the evolutionary descendant of the [[Framatome]] N4 and [[Siemens AG|Siemens Power Generation Division]] KONVOI reactors.<ref name=EPR-brochure>{{Cite document |url=http://www.areva-np.com/common/liblocal/docs/Brochure/EPR_US_%20May%202005.pdf |title=EPR&nbsp;— Areva brochure|publisher=Areva NP|date=May 2005 |accessdate=2 January 2008 |postscript=<!--None--> }}</ref>
EDF plans to use [[Areva|Areva NP]]'s [[European Pressurized Reactor|EPR]] design for any new build reactors in the UK. The first commercial EPR power stations are currently being built at [[Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant]] in Finland and [[Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant]] in France.<ref name="new dawn for Uk nuclear power" /> The EPR design can use [[enriched uranium|5% enriched uranium oxide]] fuel, optionally with up to 50%&nbsp;[[MOX fuel|mixed uranium plutonium oxide]] fuel.<ref name=UK-EPR-safety>{{Cite document |url=http://www.epr-reactor.co.uk/scripts/ssmod/publigen/content/templates/show.asp?P=139&L=EN |title=UK EPR Safety, Security and Environmental Report&nbsp;— submission to UK Health and Safety Executive |date=2007|publisher=Areva NP and EDF|accessdate=16 April 2008 |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> The EPR is the evolutionary descendant of the [[Framatome]] N4 and [[Siemens AG|Siemens Power Generation Division]] KONVOI reactors.<ref name=EPR-brochure>{{Cite document |url=http://www.areva-np.com/common/liblocal/docs/Brochure/EPR_US_%20May%202005.pdf |title=EPR&nbsp;— Areva brochure|publisher=Areva NP|date=May 2005 |accessdate=2 January 2008 |postscript=<!--None--> }}</ref>


==Public opposition==
==Opposition==
A protest group, Stop Hinkley, has been formed to campaign for the closure of Hinkley Point B and oppose any expansion at the Hinkley Point site or elsewhere in the [[Bristol Channel]] and [[Severn Estuary]]. The group issued a press release opposing any plans for a new power station on 24 September 2008, when it was announced that EDF had offered to acquire British Energy, but acknowledged that opposition in the local area is by no means unanimous.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.stophinkley.org/PressReleases/pr080924.htm | date= 24 September 2008 | title= Response to BE takeover by EDF | publisher= Stop Hinkley | accessdate=25 September 2008}}</ref>
A protest group, Stop Hinkley, has been formed to campaign for the closure of Hinkley Point B and oppose any expansion at the Hinkley Point site or elsewhere in the [[Bristol Channel]] and [[Severn Estuary]]. The group is also concerned that the new generation of power stations will store nuclear waste on site until a permanent repository is found - and this is an unknown length of time and, could potentially take decades.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8352000/8352537.stm |title=In depth: Hinkley Point C proposals |author= |date=17 March 2010 |work=BBC }}</ref> The group issued a press release opposing any plans for a new power station on 24 September 2008, when it was announced that EDF had offered to acquire British Energy, but acknowledged that opposition in the local area is by no means unanimous.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.stophinkley.org/PressReleases/pr080924.htm | date= 24 September 2008 | title= Response to BE takeover by EDF | publisher= Stop Hinkley | accessdate=25 September 2008}}</ref>

In October 2011, more than 200 protesters blockaded the site. Members of several [[anti-nuclear]] groups that are part of the Stop New Nuclear alliance barred access to Hinkley Point power station in protest at EDF Energy's plans to renew the site with two new reactors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/03/hinkley-point-protest-nuclear-power |title=Hinkley Point power station blockaded by anti-nuclear protesters |author= |date=3 October 2011 |work=The Guardian }}</ref>


==1980s PWR proposal==
==1980s PWR proposal==

Revision as of 01:28, 21 February 2012

Hinkley Point C nuclear power station
The headland at Hinkley Point with the current power stations visible in the background
Map
CountryEngland
Coordinates51°12′22″N 3°08′34″W / 51.2061°N 3.1429°W / 51.2061; -3.1429
Commission dateplanned
External links
Websitewww.edfenergy.com/energy/nuclear-new-build-projects/hinkley-point-c
CommonsRelated media on Commons
[edit on Wikidata]

grid reference ST211460

Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is a proposed development for a new nuclear power station in Somerset, England.

In September 2008 it was announced, by Electricité de France (EDF) the new owners of Hinkley Point B, that a third, twin-unit European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) reactor is planned for Hinkley Point,[1] to join Hinkley Point A (Magnox), which is now closed and being decommissioned, and the Hinkley Point B (AGR) which is due for closure in 2016.[2]

On 18 October 2010 the British government announced that Hinkley Point was one of the eight sites it considered suitable for future nuclear power stations.[3] Electricité de France (EdF) submitted an application for development consent to the Infrastructure Planning Commission on 31 October 2011.[4]

The French-owned EDF bought EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd, then known as British Energy, for £12.4 billion in a deal that was finalised in February 2009. This deal was part of a joint venture with Centrica, who acquired a 20% stake in EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd as well as the option to participate in EDF Energy's UK new nuclear build programme. EDF is currently planning to build a third-generation nuclear power station at Hinkley Point which will generate around 1,600 MW of electricity.

This follows the decision in January 2008, by the UK government to give the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations to be built.[5] Hinkley Point C, in conjunction with Sizewell C, could contribute 13% of UK electricity in the early 2020s.[1]

Until November 2004 EDF was a government corporation, but it is now a limited-liability corporation under private law (société anonyme). The French government partially floated shares of the company on the Paris Stock Exchange in November 2005,[6] although it retains almost 85% ownership as of the end of 2007.[7]

European Pressurised Reactor

EDF plans to use Areva NP's EPR design for any new build reactors in the UK. The first commercial EPR power stations are currently being built at Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant in Finland and Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant in France.[1] The EPR design can use 5% enriched uranium oxide fuel, optionally with up to 50% mixed uranium plutonium oxide fuel.[8] The EPR is the evolutionary descendant of the Framatome N4 and Siemens Power Generation Division KONVOI reactors.[9]

Public opposition

A protest group, Stop Hinkley, has been formed to campaign for the closure of Hinkley Point B and oppose any expansion at the Hinkley Point site or elsewhere in the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary. The group is also concerned that the new generation of power stations will store nuclear waste on site until a permanent repository is found - and this is an unknown length of time and, could potentially take decades.[10] The group issued a press release opposing any plans for a new power station on 24 September 2008, when it was announced that EDF had offered to acquire British Energy, but acknowledged that opposition in the local area is by no means unanimous.[11]

In October 2011, more than 200 protesters blockaded the site. Members of several anti-nuclear groups that are part of the Stop New Nuclear alliance barred access to Hinkley Point power station in protest at EDF Energy's plans to renew the site with two new reactors.[12]

1980s PWR proposal

An earlier proposal for a Hinkley Point C power station was made by the Central Electricity Generating Board in the 1980s for a sister power station to Sizewell B, using exactly the same pressurised water reactor design.[13] This proposal obtained planning permission in 1990 following a public enquiry,[14] but was dropped as uneconomic in the early 1990s when the electric power industry was privatised and low discount rate government finance was no longer available.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "New dawn for UK nuclear power". World Nuclear News. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  2. ^ "Nuclear energy: British Energy facts". Telegraph.co.uk. London: The Telegraph. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  3. ^ "Nuclear power: Eight sites identified for future plants". BBC News. BBC. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  4. ^ "Hinkley Point C New Nuclear Power Station". Infrastructure Planning Commission. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  5. ^ "New nuclear plants get go-ahead". BBC. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  6. ^ Bennhold, Katrin (21 November 2005). "EDF shares fail to light up market". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  7. ^ "Shareholding policy". Électricité de France. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  8. ^ "UK EPR Safety, Security and Environmental Report — submission to UK Health and Safety Executive" (Document). Areva NP and EDF. 2007. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  9. ^ "EPR — Areva brochure" (Document). Areva NP. May 2005. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  10. ^ "In depth: Hinkley Point C proposals". BBC. 17 March 2010.
  11. ^ "Response to BE takeover by EDF". Stop Hinkley. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  12. ^ "Hinkley Point power station blockaded by anti-nuclear protesters". The Guardian. 3 October 2011.
  13. ^ "Electricity Generating Capacity: Nuclear Power" (Document). Hansard. 1 March 1990. HL Deb 1 March 1990 vol 516 cc828-30. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Hinkley C Nuclear Power Station given planning permission". Construction News. 14 September 1990. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  15. ^ "The nuclear energy option in the UK" (Document). Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. December 2003. postnote 208. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hinkley Point.
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