Wales chosen for UKÂ’s first nuclear station

The UKs first new nuclear power plant in decades could be up and running in Wales within 10 years, according to plans by Horizon Nuclear Power.

The company, a joint venture between the UK subsidiaries of German energy majors RWE AG and E.ON AG, has announced it wants to build the nuclear plant at Wylfa, on the Isle of Anglesey, currently home to a nuclear power station that is scheduled for decommissioning next year. Horizon plans to submit a planning application by 2012, and the plant could be constructed and generating up to 3,300 megawatts MW of electricity by 2020.

Horizon wants to build another nuclear facility at a site in Oldbury, Gloucestershire, which it won in a fiercely fought online auction last May. The Oldbury plant will also have a generating capacity of 3,300 MW. The cost of both projects is estimated to be about £15 billion US $22.7 billion.

New nuclear power would make a vital contribution to meeting the countrys energy needs and tackling the challenge of climate change, said Alan Raymant, chief operating officer at Horizon. Each development would deliver up to 800 direct permanent jobs, and around 5,000 during the construction period. This will bring a major economic boost to both local economies and cement their reputation as nuclear centres of excellence for generations to come.

Horizon is currently in discussions with nuclear manufacturers Areva SA and Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, both of which are trying to get licences for their respective reactors in the UK.

Raymant said, This approach will allow us to incorporate the bestquality information in our selection and also fits with our time frame for delivery.

Horizon is not alone in trying to rejuvenate the UKs ageing nuclear industry. Others lining up to take part in the newbuild program include Electricite de France SA, which bought the 200hectare Bradwell site, and a consortium comprising GDF Suez, Iberdrola Renovables SA, and Scottish and Southern Energy plc. This consortium has agreed to pay £70 million US $106 million for a site near Sellafield in Cumbria.

The UK government has set a target of building 10 new nuclear plants by 2025, according to the release of its draft Nuclear National Policy Statement in November last year. The 10 sites believed to be potentially suitable for new nuclear plants are: Bradwell, Braystones, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Kirksanton, Oldbury, Sellafield, Sizewell and Wylfa.

In addition, the government also highlighted three alternate sites as being worthy of further consideration. These are Druridge Bay in Northumberland, Kingsnorth in Kent, and Owston Ferry in South Yorkshire. However, these sites are not suitable in their current conditions.

Earlier, Sweden put forward legislation that could see it reverse its 30year ban on new nuclear power plants. A vote on the controversial proposal will take place in June.