Tuesday 10 August 2010

Could it be Wylfa?

Only time for quick post today as I'll be heading off to the Anglesey Show shortly, but its worth pointing out that in an interview on Radio 4's Today programme yesterday, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne announced that "we are on course to make sure that the first new nuclear power station opens on time in 2018". He would not identify where it would be built but offered these clues: "there are a number of sites that have been identified around the country and those are generally on sites where we have previously had, for example, nuclear power stations and where the local people are very keen that there should be new nuclear build".

Previously had a nuclear power station? Local people in favour of another nuclear build? I've got to say it sounds a lot like Wylfa to me...

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Definately Wylfa.
They have bought substantial land holdings and are still byuing land in that area. Bound to happen.
Despite the objections.
Good news....but what of the perceived cancer risk we hear about...ask any local GP ?

Groundhog Day said...

Much as I hate to pee in anyone's gravy, it has already been established that the first of the new generation of nuclear power stations will be built at Hinkley in Somerset which already has a working station on site. In fact a friend who lives in the area tells me that survey work is well advanced. Of course this does not mean that Wylfa will not be among the batch of new stations. The French company, EDF, which is active at Hinkley, initially purchased some of the land near to Wylfa then went on to sell it to another German consortium Eon and I understand that Wylfa B if and when build will be contructed by this group. I stand to be corrected.

Anonymous said...

Chris Huhne also said that there would be no public money or subsidies either. Which means the cost of building and running (and decommissioning) has to be met entirely by the consumer.

Anonymous said...

@13.42 - The first EDF/Centrica station (if built) is probably Hinckly and is projected for no earlier than 2017.

The first E.ON/RWE station location is niot yet known and will be built no earlier than 2020.

The Great Councillini said...

"but what of the perceived cancer risk we hear about...ask any local GP ?"

This is an interesting topic. Recent research on leukaemia clusters, the usual issue of concern around nuclear stations, has been shown to have a probable link to exposure to new viruses as a large number of people move into an area as a station is built. It sounds unlikely, until you find the very same cancer clusters in entirely non-nuclear sites where there is a large influx of people from 'outside'.

My question is always: can't we simply cut back on energy use, instead of constantly building more capacity?

Anonymous said...

Back to candles or paraffin then ?

Anonymous said...

What did the DRUID think of Sioe Mon today....met any interesting people, perhaps ??

Anonymous said...

Met Huw Terry.

Prometheuswrites said...

New developments in energy production for Ynys Mon.

£70m tidal power scheme goes on display in Anglesey

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-11037069

What is good about tidal energy is that is runs day and night, week in week out, therefore more reliable than wind or solar energy. This is even better for Ynys Mon as the Dinorwic Pumped storage power staion will be able to 'store' excess energy produced at night when there is no demand from consumers.

This I am sure will go some way towards the Anglesey Energy Island concept. We can look forward to having, at some point in the future, self sufficiency in renewable, sustainable energy production.

I'd be interested to know though how many jobs this project will create and of those how many will be jobs for people already living on Ynys MOn.

Groundhog Day said...

Disturbing article in the financial pages today regarding Eon which I understand to be the German company (I stand to be corrected) involved in the proposed Wylfa B. It appears that following imposition of new financial burdens in its domestic German market the company is now reconsidering all investment in the UK. A new nuclear tax in Germany will take an estimated £2 billion a year out of the business making it more to raise money and potentially threatening the company's ability to build nuclear stations in the UK.
A further interesting point noted recently is that German nuclear plants nearing the end of their lives have been given extensions.
The German government agreed to extend the working lives of its 17 nuclear reactors by an average of 12 years. So why are we not extending the life of our reactors?

Jarlath said...

Goundhog Day you are correct Horizon Nuclear Power is a joint venture between E.on and RWE npower, both German firms.
Below are extracts from a report in the Telegraph on 18 August 2010"...The Government wants new nuclear power plants because they produce energy without emitting carbon dioxide, which many scientists say causes global warming…..” And

“…..One industry source said: "At the moment, there's not much of an incentive for any energy company build much of anything unless it comes with a subsidy like renewables…..” And

“….A spokesman said: "The Government has been repeatedly clear that there will be no subsidy towards the building of new nuclear power stations and their clean up. It is for energy companies to fund, build and develop these, not the taxpayer. That remains the case…..."

See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6044394/Consumers-to-pay-for-new-nuclear-power-plants.html

Are power companies saying therefore- no subsidy no nuclear power stations or at least a delay in the start of construction? Centrica (owners of British Gas) have warned that in order to plug the gap power companies may instead invest in gas power stations, increasing our reliance on imported gas.

Bear in mind that Centrica have a joint venture with EDF in EDF's UK New Nuclear Build programme.

As to an extension to the current Wylfa power station this from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wylfa_Nuclear_Power_Station

“On 20 July 2006 the NDA announced that the station will be shut down in 2010 because operation beyond then would be "totally uneconomic".[2]. However subsequently (25 February 2009) the NDA has begun considering a potential extension to Wylfa's life expectancy.[3].”

Jarlath said...

Will the coalition government actually kill off the proposal for Wylfa B. - Horizon Nuclear Power think so. As reported in the Times today the German backed proposal to build nuclear reactors in Britain is in doubt after Chris Huhne signalled that the Government would not support a key plank of the proposals. E.on is said to be livid.

Whilst a spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change sought to play down Mr Huhne’s comments, it is clear who will be blamed if the proposed for Wylfa B does not happen.

The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives on the island need to remonstrate with Mr Huhne quickly, or otherwise they will never stand a chance electorally on the island

Paul Williams said...

Jarlath - very interesting indeed. Do you have a link?

Prometheuswrites said...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-11381041

Related topic methinks?

Groundhog day said...

These new developments are very disturbing indeed and may well be another nail in the island's coffin with regard to employment and prosperity. Who on earth appointed that tree-hugger Huhne as energy minister - it's a bit like putting the fox in charge of the chicken house.
I wonder how things as they stand will affect the reported £1m purchase of land belonging to the villagers of cemaes Bay, is it a done deal or will Eon pull out?

jarlath said...

Druid, dont have a link as such, seeing that now you have to pay for online Times, anyway it's a report by their Energy Editor Robin Pagnamenta in the Buisness section todays paper.

Anonymous said...

@jarlath
If you are a member of the library service you can get FREE online access to NEWSBANK http://library.wales.org/reference-resources/newsbank/

The times is included in the list of papers.

If you're not yet a member of the library service you can request a membership card here - http://www.anglesey.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=4893