Hinkley
Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has said he is preparing his constituency for Chinese management to enter the UK for work on Hinkley Point C. The Conservative MP told Construction News that he would “guarantee” a dedicated section of Bridgwater College for Chinese nationals looking to start work in west Somerset. China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) had been linked as a co-investor to EDF Energy’s nuclear power project, with chancellor George Osborne drumming up support for investment in UK infrastructure on a trip to China. It is expected that an announcement on an agreed strike price between EDF and the Department of Energy and Climate Change for generated electricity at the plant will soon be announced at around £93 per megawatt-hour.
Construction News 17th Oct 2013 read more »
French nuclear group Areva is ready to join the EDF-led consortium that plans to build a nuclear plant at Hinkley Point in the UK, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, quoting people with knowledge of the matter.Bloomberg said China General Nuclear Power Corp. would also become a shareholder and that Areva and EDF’s boards would meet next week to approve the deal.
Reuters 16th Oct 2013 read more »
George Osborne will hail a new dawn for Britain’s civil nuclear programme on Thursday as the chancellor announces a deal between Chinese investors and EDF Energy to build the first nuclear power station in the UK in a generation. The Chinese General Nuclear Power Group and the French energy company are expected to sign a letter of intent as the two sides finally agree a deal for a planned new plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset. The main commercial details of the agreement will be announced on Monday by Ed Davey, energy secretary. Mr Osborne’s determination to announce the deal on his trip to China has infuriated Mr Davey, who has done much of the legwork. He travelled to China last month to meet officials ahead of the chancellor’s visit. Ministers are adamant that neither element of the deal is a form of subsidy for civil nuclear power, but the coalition could be in an uneasy position when the deal comes up against EU public subsidy rules in the coming months. The coalition agreement between the Lib Dems and Conservatives states clearly there will be no government subsidy for new nuclear.
FT 16th Oct 2013 read more »
The Treasury is very much ready to boost a new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point with a multi-billion pound guarantee, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said today. However in a speech to members of the think-tank CentreForum at Guildhall this morning, he said the Government is still adamant nuclear will not get “public subsidy”.
Energy Live News 16th Oct 2013 read more »
With Hinkley Point C set to utilise Areva’s European Pressurised Reactor, it is clear that much of this capacity “from a global perspective” will come from France. However, with China General Nuclear Power Group owing nearly half of the project, it is also likely we will also see Chinese engineers involved in the construction of the plant. Engineers ARE Made in China, and they will soon be building British nuclear power plants.
Process Engineering 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Energy Costs
Consumer Futures yesterday waded into the debate about the cost of consumer subsidies for Hinkley Point, which will generate about 6 per cent of the UK’s power. The Government will guarantee that the reactor will be paid almost t wice as much as the current wholesale electricity price for up to 40 years. Richard Hall, energy expert at the consumer group, estimated that paying £93 for every megawatt hour for 35 years will net the owners about £79 billion in revenues. Mr Hall said that key financial condition s details of the subsidies will be kept confidential. “The framework for ensuring adequate scrutiny is not reassuring,” he said. “We would like to see the Government more clearly commit to fully publishing every provision that may materially affect future consumer liabilities.”
Times 17th Oct 2013 read more »
Bradwell
Maldon’s MP says he would not object if China signed a deal to build a new nuclear power station in Bradwell. China General Nuclear Power Group is reportedly hoping to establish a foothold in the British nuclear industry before pressing to build nuclear reactors of its own on other sites. Land next to Bradwell power station, owned by EDF Energy, remains one of a number of sites the Government has earmarked as suitable for a new build power station. Maldon MP John Whittingdale said: “I’m very strongly in favour of a new power station and I have no objection to Chinese investment, they have a very successful nuclear programme.”
Maldon Standard 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Sizewell
Talks on pay and conditions for workers who will build a new multibillion-pound nuclear power station will be held tomorrow amid speculation that the project is about to receive the final go-ahead. The government is expected to announce, possibly as early as tomorrow, that agreement has been reached with French energy giant EDF over the price of generating electricity from the Hinkley Point site in Somerset, which could also shed further light on the future of Sizewell C.
Eastern Daily Press 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Nuclear Investment
Robert Peston: Part of what has been holding back the development of new nuclear power plants in the UK is their enormous cost. The government is refusing to finance these hugely pricey projects directly – although it will allow the owners of any new nuclear generators to charge well above the current market price for any power they produce in years and decades to come, so that the billions in development and construction costs can be recouped. The big attraction for the chancellor of allowing Chinese companies to invest in Britain’s nuclear industry is that they have deep pockets. On his current trip to China, he has told the biggest Chinese nuclear companies they will in future even be able to own controlling stakes in British power stations, and not just small minority shares. I am told that EdF has been negotiating with three nuclear giants, CGN, CNNC and SNPTC. One or two of these is likely to end up owning perhaps 30% of Hinkley C.
BBC 17th Oct 2013 read more »
Chancellor George Osborne said the Government’s decision to encourage Chinese firms to help develop nuclear power stations in the UK is “good for the taxpayer”. Mr Osborne wrote on Twitter: We’re paving way for major Chinese involvement in building new nuclear power stations in UK. Good for taxpayer- will help with energy prices.
ITV 17th Oct 2013 read more »
George Osborne, the Chancellor, has announced that the UK will allow Chinese companies to take a stake in British nuclear power plants. The decision could lead to China taking a future majority stake – and even be allowed to own up to 100 pc – in the development of the next generation of British nuclear power. Mr Osborne made the announcement on Thursday the last day of a week-long trade visit to China after a visit to Taishan nuclear power station on the coast near Hong Kong. Taishan is a collaboration between French energy company EDF and the China General Nuclear Power Company. But an announcement on the £14bn EDF plant at Hinkley Point has still yet to be made – and could apparently be delayed for another year.
Telegraph 17th Oct 2013 read more »
The Chancellor, George Osborne, has announced that the UK will allow Chinese companies to take a stake in British nuclear power plants. The decision could lead to China taking a future majority stake in the development of the next generation of British nuclear power.
BBC 17th Oct 2013 read more »
Sky News 17th Oct 2013 read more »
ITV 17th Oct 2013 read more »
Construction Enquirer 17th Oct 2013 read more »
China and the United Kingdom signed on Tuesday 59 cooperation projects ranging from areas such as infrastructure and civilian nuclear power to yuan internationalization, marking the largest economic cooperation effort by the two countries despite previous political spats. On the civilian nuclear energy front, though an MOU was signed, the details are yet to emerge. Osborne declined to provide information on how much the deal is worth and on China’s specific role. Earlier media reports said that China General Nuclear Power Group has entered a deal with Electricite de France SA for a planned nuclear plant in southwest England’s Hinkley Point. EDF and the UK government had said that the talks over the financial terms of the deal were ongoing.
China Daily 16th Oct 2013 read more »
China’s nuclear industry hopes that a nondescript industrial site in south-western England will soon become a launch pad for its international expansion. George Osborne, chancellor, is set to announce on Thursday that the Chinese will partner EDF Energy in the nuclear power station it is planning to build at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Britain’s desire for Chinese investment in a new generation of nuclear power plants is well known. But China also has much at stake in its planned co-operation with the UK. “The Chinese have big ambitions to market their technology internationally, and being part of the UK nuclear project will help them achieve that,” says Mamdouh El-Shanawany, head of new nuclear opportunities at Lloyd’s Register. The company in pole position to carry Chinese expansion hopes is China General Nuclear Power Group, or CGN, which Mr Osborne is expected to unveil as EDF’s co-investor at Hinkley.
FT 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Energy Supplies
There is a growing risk of power shortages over the next few years, according to a report commissioned for the prime minister. The Royal Academy of Engineering said the closure of older power plants and the slow progress in building news ones was likely to stretch the system “close to its limits”. Supply is particularly expected to come under strain in the winter of 2014-15. Last week the National Grid warned of a higher risk of blackouts this winter.
BBC 17th Oct 2013 read more »
Guardian 17th Oct 2013 read more »
Japan
The Nuclear Odyssey of Naoto Kan, Japan’s Prime Minister during Fukushima. Having led Japan through the 2011 nuclear crisis, the elder statesman is now campaigning for a world without nuclear power
Scientific Amercian 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Iran
As Western diplomats hail positive progress at talks with Iran on its nuclear programme, the BBC’s James Reynolds in Geneva looks at what may have brought the two sides closer together.
BBC 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Telegraph 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Iran signalled the possibility of significant concessions over its nuclear programme in talks that closed on Wednesday, bringing the prospect of a breakthrough closer than at any time in the last decade, according to western diplomats.
Guardian 16th Oct 2013 read more »
‘Too early to judge’: Talks over Iran’s nuclear programme take place in Geneva… but possible settlement remains some way off’
Independent 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Faslane
The Royal Navy has successfully trialled a new state-of-the-art floating jetty at its submarine base on the Clyde. The Valiant Jetty is designed to move with the tide and will be used to berth nuclear subs at Faslane. A Trafalgar-class sub was berthed on Saturday, followed on Monday by one of the Navy’s new Astute-class subs. The 200m-long jetty is vital to operations at HM Naval Base Clyde, according to the Navy.
Dundee Courier 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Herald 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Daily Record 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Renewables
Juliet Davenport: If any of us in the energy industry thought the imminent passing of the Energy Bill through Parliament meant we were headed for the quiet life in the run-up to the 2015 election, then Labour leader Ed Miliband’s Labour Party conference pledge has proved us sorely wrong. The benefits from renewable energy projects should go beyond pound signs and carbon saving. They should encapsulate everything from biodiversity and energy efficiency to outdoor learning and community ownership. Importantly, there has to be practical ways for communities to be involved in the ownership of projects and receive a return linked to its performance which then stays in the local area.
Business Green 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Energy Efficiency
People don’t trust energy companies. So why are power providers being asked to persuade householders to install subsidised energy measures? Energy companies say it’s difficult to persuade consumers to insulate their homes, even when government subsidies are on offer. And yet two thirds of people would make their homes more energy efficient if someone told them how, according to a new poll for the Energy Savings Trust. But does that ‘someone’ include the energy companies? The polling also suggests that it probably doesn’t. Arguments about ‘green taxes’ are largely about energy efficiency. Levies on consumer energy bills pay for government measures to increase energy efficiency, support renewable power, and help low-income households insulate their homes. Together they make up about nine per cent of the average bill. Wouldn’t we be much better off where the money was taken off an put into a programme of energy efficiency where it’s delivered locally but managed by public servants in some way, I think we should break the link between these schemes and the energy suppliers”. There’s not much disagreement that insulating the UK’s housing stock – among the least energy efficient in Europe – should be a central part of any plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle fuel poverty. But looks as though ECO may fall victim to a continuing political row between the Lib Dems and Conservatives over ‘green’ subsidies. George Osborne wants to use his Autumn statement to cut green measures, according to the Telegraph – and ECO is in the firing line.
Carbon Brief 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Letter: It is unfair to say that the Green Deal has been a “resounding failure”. Since it began, more than 71,000 households have been assessed and these are running at a rate of 13,000 to 14,000 a month. For the first time householders have basic information on what they can install to save energy, the costs of installation, and the amount they might save. In the last survey, 81 per cent of households said that they either have had measures installed, are installing them, or expect to do so. While the take-up of Green Deal finance plans, for those choosing this payment option, has been slower than wanted, reasonable people will understand that it takes time to put in place such an ambitious programme.
Times 17th Oct 2013 read more »
Fossil Fuels
The British Geological Survey (BGS) is to begin work next year on estimating the size of shale gas deposits between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The move was confirmed by BGS’s director of science and technology during an appearance before the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee. Prof Mike Stephenson said BGS planned to start work after a study in south east England is completed in March. The committee is examining the impact on energy policy of shale gas and oil.
BBC 16th Oct 2013 read more »
Express 16th Oct 2013 read more »
