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Nuclear bids begin as 11 new sites are shortlisted
Robert Lea16.04.09
Months — possibly years — of wrangling kicked off today as the Government shortlisted 11 sites for the construction of new nuclear power stations.
Three of the sites which appear likely to receive Government backing are in the South-East — next to existing nuclear stations at Dungeness in Kent, Bradwell in Essex and Sizewell in Suffolk.
Two more, highly controversially, are being proposed on greenfield sites in Cumbria. The existing nuclear installation at Sellafield is also a candidate for new build.
Today's announcement is the belated start of a process of commissioning new nuclear power stations.
None of the plants is likely to be ready before 2018 but their construction is widely regarded as crucial because of the number of UK electricity generators which will be closed because of age or pollution over the next decade.
The shortlist also confirms who the major players of the new nuclear age are likely to be. While it is hoped the construction of as many as eight new nuclear power stations will create thousands of jobs in the UK, none of the operators is likely to be British.
French state-owned EDF — which last year bought the eight-strong fleet of nuclear generators run by British Energy — has nominated five sites, including Sizewell and Dungeness. It has also admitted interest in building a plant at Bradwell where it already owns land. The Essex village is one of three state-owned sites that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is selling in an eBay-style auction to the highest bidders. And the German power giants E.On and RWE npower — which have formed a consortium — have nominated the two other sites the NDA is auctioning: Oldbury in Gloucestershire and Wylfa on Anglesey.
The RWE/E.On consortium is leading the going on Oldbury and Wylfa in a bidding war against including EDF, the Scandinavian group Vattenfall and a consortium of Iberdrola of Spain and GDF Suez of France.
Nine of the nominated sites are adjacent to existing nuclear installations but RWE npower has submitted two applications for sites on virgin Cumbrian farmland, one at Kirksanton, close to the home of the Cumberland sausage, and another at Braystones, north of Sellafield. It is believed the German group has made the Cumbrian applications as an insurance policy should it and E.On be outbid in the NDA auction.
The publication of the shortlist today marks the beginning of a month-long public consultation. The approved government shortlist should be ready sometime next year.
Richard Mayson, planning chief at EDF, said: “EDF intends to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to a robust investment framework being in place.”
Reader views (7)
Well we are not allowed to dig up col as there aren't any miners left. gas is to run out. eco mentalists would let them selves on fire before we have the only logical alternative to the energy problem is made. wind farms is dependent on a force that half the time is not there. solar panels are useless. unless we make fusion work nuclear Armageddon will never happen; there will be no fuel to power the rockets.
The kneads to be more nuclear power stations. better disposal of wast, better filters on col fired stations. more money at fusion and investment in to hydrogen powered cars. at 90%, hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. and your telling me there's an energy crises.
- Ell, bedford
Scotland has so many possible hydroelectricity sites that it has no need for Nuclear unlike the UK as a whole. There is very limited transmission lines between Scotland and the south of England were the power is needed, until we find a way to build a new large overhead line from Scotland to the sourth, there is no point is building more power stations in Scotland.
- Ian, Birmingham
Maggie,London UK
They are owned, run, and more than likely staffed by the french, they bought our nuclear stations from us, and guess what! The used a few billion they borrowed of the "RBS" after we bailed them out (our money!! yes our money. What a guverrrnment we have.
- Cw, Wirral,England
Just make sure that they do not go to any foreign company.
- Maggie, London UK
I see our Scottish government has not found any suitable locations in Scotland. Do they have electricity up there?
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
So 4 nuclear targets for terrorists and a Chernobyl danger waiting to happen.
All because of ridiculous targets for carbon emissions and the full realisation by a ridiculous government that wind power is economic nonsense as well as being visual pollution and that solar panels are some kind of sick joke.
Gas fired power stations are part of the answer and coal fired alternatives with scubbers around the emissions.
The idiot green lobby is forcing us to a stone age economy or nuclear armageddon, neither of which appears to be a very good idea.
- Alan, Llandrindod Wells
Let bradwell have the risk for a change and leave the North East alone. We have taken enough risks in the past.
- Keith, Middlesbrough
