nuclear-news

Britain’s next new nuclear plant to be built from 2021, says EDF boss, Telegraph UK, 17 Oct 18,  The construction of EDF Energy’s follow up project to the Hinkley Point C new nuclear plant could begin within the next three years, according to the group’s boss.

The UK arm of the French state-owned nuclear giant is yet to agree a fresh financing framework for the Sizewell C nuclear in Suffolk after repeated criticism of the Hinkley Point C deal.

But Simone Rossi, the company’s new chief executive, said the group expects to be able start construction at the end of 2021 to take advantage of its experience building the Hinkley project in Somerset.

The UK’s new nuclear drive has been dogged by criticism due to high costs, while renewable energy costs have fallen faster than expected. The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) warned the government earlier this year to slow plans for a new nuclear investment boom in favour of cheaper renewable power.

The Government had originally planned support the construction of as many as six  new plants to help cut carbon emissions from the energy sector – but developers have struggled to finance the plans.

The Government is expected to abandon the contract offered to EDF Energy for Hinkley, which put bill payers on the hook to guarantee the developer a price of £92.50 for every megawatt-hour of energy produced.

Under the new proposals, known as a regulated asset base (RAB) model, EDF Energy could be in line for similar terms as those offered to companies building major multi-billion pound water infrastructure developments.

The Telegraph revealed earlier this year that Dalmore Capital, one of the backers of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, is in talks to help ­finance the £16bn Sizewell nuclear plant……….https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/10/16/britains-next-new-nuclear-plant-built-2021-says-edf-boss/