British Energy Agrees Grid Access For Possible New-Build Sites
Written by NucNet
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
NucNet News No. 250
28 Nov (NucNet): Plans for a new generation of nuclear power plants in
the UK have taken a step forward after British Energy (BE) named four
sites in the south of England as the first it wants to connect to the
national grid.
BE said yesterday that it has entered into transmission connection agreements with National Grid for each of the key sites it owns - at Sizewell, Hinkley, Dungeness and Bradwell - for grid access from 2016 onwards.
National Grid owns and operates the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales.
Through the agreements BE has contracted the capacity needed for potential future nuclear development at these sites, subject to National Grid obtaining planning and other consents.
Grid access is one of the most important constraining factors in siting, BE said. The ability to connect replacement nuclear stations to the grid will be a relevant factor for nuclear and any other generation type.
The company added: "We remain flexible at this stage about exactly how and when the sites might be developed and on issues like the choice of reactor design."
BE also said all its existing eight sites across the UK have potential for replacement nuclear and there is suitable land at all locations. The UK government is expected to decide on the future of nuclear power early in 2008. If the decision is positive, a strategic assessment of siting is expected in 2008, BE said.
In the meantime, BE has commissioned a range of geological, environmental impact, marine, transmission system and other studies for its sites.
Yesterday BE published a review of the engineering needs to protect its sites from the possible longer term impact of climate change. The review, by Halcrow Group, is based upon climate change scenarios anticipated by the UK's Meteorological Office in a study carried out for BE, published in January 2007.
The key conclusion is that flood defence and coast protection measures can be deployed to make replacement build a feasible option at all sites.
Relying solely on current engineering methods and knowledge the sites can be made robust against climate change impacts for the expected lifetimes of the replacement stations.
Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Subsidies Not Needed For UK New-Build, Says BE Chief (News in Brief No. 6, 5 September 2006)
BE Plants 'Well-Protected' From Rises In Sea Level, Says UK Study (News No. 18, 24 January 2007)
BE In 'Initial Discussions' With Four Reactor Suppliers (World Nuclear Review No. 25, 22 June 2007)
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