UK Nuclear to be built by UK firms - Westminster Energy Forum

Monday, 9 February 2009

Richard Mayson, External Affairs Director, EDF Development Co

Taking forward UK new build – the strategic plan of EDF 

Mayson said EDF was embracing a mix of low carbon energy.

In the UK the company would have 1000 MW of renewables in operation by 2012, including a 90 MW offshore wind farm at Teeside.

It was researching carbon capture andd storage (CCS) development and had now acquired British Energy’s eight nuclear (and one coal) power stations. 

He said that under the British Energy takeover deal some nuclear sites would be sold. Heysham or Dungeness, Wylfa and maybe Bradwell were on the list. 

With Vincent de Rivaz at the helm of the enlarged EDF Energy UK business the company intended to build four new EPR reactors capable of powering eight million homes at Sizewell and Hinkley Point  by 2025, with the first coming on stream by Christmas 2017. An engineering and construction subsidiary was being set up for this purpose.

Mayson said he had never known such a positive environment for nuclear power in the UK as was evident now in 2009. 

In terms of its track record, Mayson pointed to EDF 58 reactors in France, producing 80 per cent of French electricity, and the new Flamanville 3 plant being built in Normandy which was, in his opinion contrary to some press reports, on schedule.

Public opinion had, he suggested taken a ‘massive swing’ in favour of nuclear power, aided, he said, by Vladimir Putin’s recent actions over Russian gas. 

In terms of public concerns over new nuclear power, EDF’s research at Hinkley Point identified these as local issues – transport to and from the site, the impact on the local environment, and facilities for the workforce. 

The timeline now looked like 2009 for nominating sites, 2010 for submitting planning applications, 2011 for planning approval, 2013-2017 for construction. 

He also confirmed that EDF would be using UK companies in the new build programme and was already talking to a number of firms. 

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