Centrica has opted out of a joint venture with EDF Energy to build new nuclear power plants in the UK, dealing a blow to the project. Centrica retains its 20% interest in eight operating plants.
_72x48.jpg "Trawsfynydd 1 (Emptyset) 72x48")
_83x48.jpg "Hinkley Point C vision (EDF Energy) 83x48")
The UK will not be able to meet its climate change targets without new nuclear but should develop a fall-back plan in case projects to build new capacity by 2025 do not proceed as planned, a parliamentary committee has concluded.
Several milestones have been reached in the decommissioning of the UK's fleet of Magnox nuclear power plants, including the completion of defuelling at Chapelcross and the removal of a transformer from the Oldbury site.
The UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has decided to transfer remaining stocks of nuclear fuels from the Dounreay site to Sellafield. The move will enable Dounreay's security status to be significantly downgraded.
Separate contracts for naval nuclear power systems have been signed by engineering companies Rolls-Royce and Babcock & Wilcox. Both firms also have a significant presence in the civil nuclear industry._615x160.jpg)
_80x48.jpg "ABWR (Hitachi) 80x48")
The UK energy minister has asked nuclear regulators to begin discussions over Generic Design Assessment for Hitachi-GE's Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR). The design has been proposed for new units at the Wylfa and Oldbury sites.