nuclear-news

UK’s energy policy under pressure as cracks revealed in EDF’s Hunterston B nuclear reactor

Cracks in nuclear reactor threaten UK energy policy, Problems at Hunterston B in Scotland trigger doubts over six other 1970s and 80s plants, Guardian,  Adam Vaughan, 7 May 18, 

The government’s energy policy is under renewed pressure after the prolonged closure of one of Britain’s oldest nuclear reactors because of cracks in its graphite core raised questions over the future of six other plants built in the 1970s and 1980s.

The temporary shutdown of reactor three at Hunterston B in Scotland is also expected to burn an estimated £120m hole in the revenues of its owner, EDF Energy. The firm said this week that it was taking the reactor offline for six months after inspections revealed more cracks than expected.

Safety fears have been quashed, but the potential impact on wider energy strategy has alarmed experts who say the reactor may never be restarted……

The government’s energy policy is under renewed pressure after the prolonged closure of one of Britain’s oldest nuclear reactors because of cracks in its graphite core raised questions over the future of six other plants built in the 1970s and 1980s.

The temporary shutdown of reactor three at Hunterston B in Scotland is also expected to burn an estimated £120m hole in the revenues of its owner, EDF Energy. The firm said this week that it was taking the reactor offline for six months after inspections revealed more cracks than expected.

Safety fears have been quashed, but the potential impact on wider energy strategy has alarmed experts who say the reactor may never be restarted.

…….. BMI Research said it did not expect Hinkley Point C to come online by 2025 as planned, given recent warnings of further delays to EDF’s Flamanville plant in France, which uses the same reactor design. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/06/cracks-nuclear-reactor-threaten-uk-energy-policy-hunsterston

May 7, 2018 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general