Hinkley Point C nuclear power station

Infobox UK power station
static_

static_image_caption=The headland at Hinkley Point with the current power stations visible in the background
os_grid_reference=ST211460
latitude=51.209
longitude=-3.127
country=England
region=South West England
shire_county=Somerset
fuel=Nuclear
opened= planned

Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is a proposed development for a new nuclear power station in Somerset, England.

In September 2008 it was announced, by Electricité de France (EDF) the new owners of Hinkley Point B, that a third, twin-unit European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) reactor is planned for Hinkley Point, cite news | url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_New_dawn_for_UK_nuclear_power_2409081.html | title=New dawn for UK nuclear power | publisher=World Nuclear News | date=2008-09-24 | accessdate=2008-09-25 ] to join Hinkley Point A (Magnox), which is now closed and being decommissioned, and the Hinkley Point B (AGR) which is due for closure in 2016. [cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/3073749/Nuclear-energy-British-Energy-facts.html|title=Nuclear energy: British Energy facts |work=Telegraph.co.uk|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=2008-09-25]

Electricité de France

Electricité de France (EDF), who bought the site as part of a wider deal for acquisition of British Energy, are hoping to begin planning for the power station in earnest, following the decision in January 2008, by the UK government to give the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations to be built.cite news|title=New nuclear plants get go-ahead|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7179579.stm|date=10 January 2008|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-01-10] Hinkley Point C, in conjunction with Sizewell C, could contribute 13% of UK electricity in the early 2020s.

Until November 19, 2004 EDF was a government corporation, but it is now a limited-liability corporation under private law ("société anonyme"). The French government partially floated shares of the company on the Paris Stock Exchange in November 2005, [cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/11/21/business/edf.php|title=EDF shares fail to light up market|last=Bennhold|first=Katrin|date=21 November 2005|work=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=2008-07-11] although it retains almost 85% ownership as of the end of 2007. [cite web|url=http://investisseurs.edf.com/the-edf-group/edf-investors/stock-information/shareholding-policy-117065.html|title=Shareholding policy|date=31 December 2007|publisher=Électricité de France|accessdate=2008-07-11]

European Pressurized Reactor

EDF plans to use Areva NP's EPR design for any new build reactors in the UK. The first commercial EPR power stations are currently being built at Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant in Finland and Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant in France. The EPR design can use 5% enriched uranium oxide fuel, optionally with up to 50% mixed uranium plutonium oxide fuel.citation |url=http://www.epr-reactor.co.uk/scripts/ssmod/publigen/content/templates/show.asp?P=139&L=EN |title=UK EPR Safety, Security and Environmental Report - submission to UK Health and Safety Executive |date=2007|publisher=Areva NP and EDF|accessdate=2008-04-16] The EPR is the evolutionary descendant of the Framatome N4 and Siemens Power Generation Division KONVOI reactors.citation |url=http://www.areva-np.com/common/liblocal/docs/Brochure/EPR_US_%20May%202005.pdf |title=EPR - Areva brochure|publisher=Areva NP|date=May 2005 |accessdate=2008-01-02]

Opposition

A protest group, Stop Hinckley, has been formed to campaign for the closure of Hinkley Point B and oppose any expansion at the Hinkley Point site or elswhere in the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary. The group issued a press release opposing any plans for a new power station on 24 September 2008, when it was announced that EDF had taken over British Energy, but acknowledged that opposition in the local area is by no means unanimous. [cite web | url= http://www.stophinkley.org/PressReleases/pr080924.htm | date= 2008-09-24 | title= Response to BE takeover by EDF | publisher= Stop Hinkley | accessdate= 2008-09-25]

ee also

*Energy policy of the United Kingdom
*Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom
*Nuclear power in the United Kingdom

References

External links

* [http://www.stophinkley.org/ Stop Hinkley] , local protest group