nuclear-news

UK and Europe cannot depend on nuclear power, with reactors shutting down, just as winter hits.

 The first real winter test of how strained the UK’s energy supplies are will come next month when nuclear reactors start closing for maintenance, just as the heating season kicks off.

Nuclear output makes up roughly 15% of Britain’s energy mix, and the planned shutdowns may challenge
electricity production when the country can least afford it. Two units at n the Heysham plant in northern England are set to halt for periods between October and November, and more nuclear closures are scheduled through winter.

European power prices have surged amid an energy crisis linked to soaring gas costs caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. While early winter weather is expected to be mild, the UK grid risks becoming particularly
tight as it gets colder, with the country exporting power to France because of major outages at reactors there.

 Bloomberg 7th Sept 2022

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-07/winter-nuclear-shutdowns-will-pose-first-big-test-for-uk-grid

September 21, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, UK