8 Oct (NucNet): EDF says it can deliver the UK's first new nuclear power plant in more than a decade by 2017 and have a total of four built by 2025.
In its submission to the British government's consultation on possible new build, EDF said the government's presumption that new nuclear is unlikely to make a significant contribution until 2020 is "unduly conservative".
Chief executive Vincent de Rivaz said: "We believe that new nuclear can be online in the UK by 2017."
"We are looking at the possibility of building four nuclear power
plants in the UK on our own or in partnership with others before 2025."
EDF also said it does not need any government subsidy to invest in nuclear.
But the company called for a number of "facilitative actions" by the
government. They include improvements to the planning process,
identifying suitable new build sites and completing the generic design
assessment of prospective technologies.
EDF also called on the government to develop arrangements to protect
the taxpayer from future waste and decommissioning liabilities from new
build.
The company pointed out that most of the UK's nuclear and coal capacity
is closing over the next 15 years, leaving a prospective energy gap of
15-33 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2015 and 33-52 GW by 2025.
EDF, Westinghouse and British Energy have all said they are in the running for possible new nuclear build projects in the UK.
In May 2007, the UK government announced it had reached "a preliminary
view" that it would be in the public interest to allow energy companies
to invest in nuclear power.
But the government said it would consult further, in a process which
will run until later this week, before making the final decision.
Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Energy Giants Prepare For UK New Build (News No. 127, 23 May 2007)
UK New Build Does Not Need Subsidies, Says BE (News in Brief No. 28, 24 September 2007)
Areva And EDF Unveil UK EPR Design For Public Comment (News No. 207, 10 September 2007)
