The k2p blog

The quiet nuclear renaissance continues with the UK now announcing its plans.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/8070810/Eight-new-nuclear-power-stations-despite-safety-and-clean-up-concerns.html

Chris Huhne, the UK Energy Secretary, has given the go-ahead for eight new nuclear power stations in Britain despite concerns about safety and the clean-up costs.

The new nuclear power stations will be built near existing sites in in Bradwell in Essex, Hartlepool, Heysham in Lancashire, Hinkley Point in Somerset, Oldbury in South Gloucestershire, Sellafield in Cumbria, Sizewell in Suffolk and Wylfa in Anglesey.

Three sites in Dungeness in Kent and Braystones and Kirksanton in Cumbria were ruled out due to concerns over the impact on wildlife and the Lake District National Park. The new stations will not start generating power until 2018 so the Government also plans to allow existing nuclear stations to extend their life.

Nuclear Engineering International reports that

 

AREVA EPR

 

The government also signed a regulatory justification for the AP1000 and EPR reactor designs. Following 2004 regulations, it is required to justify that new reactors are worth the potential radiological risk. Following three consultations have taken place—one on the regulatory review, and one on each design—the government decided not to launch a further public consultation on the matter.

The AP1000 is a Westinghouse designed  1154 MWe PWR nuclear power plant. The EPR reactor is an advanced Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) offered by AREVA and which is being built in Finland, France and China.

Westinghouse AP1000: Westinghouse

Tags: AP1000, Areva, EPR, Nuclear power, UK, Westinghouse

This entry was posted on October 18, 2010 at 6:36 pm and is filed under Energy, Engineering, Technology, UK. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.