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Progress towards new UK nuclear plants of all sizes

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Britain’s nuclear new-build programme took a couple of small steps forward last month. First, government design acceptance was granted for the reactor intended for incorporation into two nuclear power plants being developed for sites in Anglesey and Gloucestershire by Horizon Nuclear Power. Second, South Korea’s KEPCO was granted preferred bidder status to purchase NuGen from its current owner Toshiba, with a view to building a new nuclear power plant in Cumbria.

Looking even further forward, the government announced new support to help exploit the potential for the UK to become a world leader in developing small modular reactor (SMR) designs, and committed new funds for nuclear fusion technologies.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales – the regulators that undertake Generic Design Assessments for new reactor designs –
confirmed that Hitachi-GE’s UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (UK ABWR) is suitable for construction in the UK, following completion of a detailed assessment exercise.

The regulators are satisfied that the reactor meets expectations on safety, security and environmental protection at this stage of the regulatory process. ONR has issued a Design Acceptance Confirmation and the environment agencies have issued a Statement of Design Acceptability to Hitachi-GE.

Horizon is proposing to build and operate reactors of this type in the 2.7 GW power stations proposed for Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey and Oldbury-on-Severn in South Gloucestershire.

Meanwhile, following much speculation about potential new owners for NuGen and its Moorside Project to build a three-reactor, 3.4 GW nuclear power plant in Cumbria, KEPCO has emerged as the front runner. Toshiba’s nuclear subsidiary Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy earlier last year.

The announcement is a significant milestone in the sale process, says NuGen, but does not mark the conclusion of the transaction. Teams from KEPCO are now working with Toshiba and the government to consider the proposals, while KEPCO is to seek approval from the Korean government to enter the UK and acquire NuGen. UK regulators accepted the AP1000 reactor design to be deployed at Moorside earlier last year.

Uncertainty around the prospects of traditional, full-size nuclear plants may be relevant to the government’s new support for also moving the SMR design process forward. One
core objective of its Industrial Strategy is to ensure that the UK is developing the technologies of the future.

The government has
said that funding is being made available over the next three years to help support research and development into innovative SMRs, as well as to assess their feasibility and to accelerate the development of designs. It will also be supporting regulators to build the capability needed to assess and licence SMRs, and will establish an expert finance group to advise how SMR projects could raise private investment.

The government proposes to provide up to £56mn R&D funding for new technologies through a two-stage Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) R&D project over three years. Stage 1 comprises up to £4mn for feasibility studies and up to £7mn to further develop the capability of nuclear regulators that assess advanced nuclear technologies. Subject to Stage 1 demonstrating clear value for money, up to £40mn could be available for further R&D projects.

Last, the government has awarded the
UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) £86mn to establish a centre to support innovation and expertise in nuclear fusion technologies. The funding will establish a National Fusion Technology Platform (NaFTeP) at UKAEA’s Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire.

 

Photo: The signing of the design acceptance for Hitachi-GE’s UK ABWR reactor

 

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