You need only look at other similar projects around the world to understand exactly how risky Hinkley Point C really is. At the time of writing, there are no functioning power stations with the same reactor design as that planned to be used at Hinkley. There are four other plants around the world currently being built with the same reactor design as Hinkley Point C – but all of them have been plagued with problems. The Flamanville plant in France is currently six years late and three times over budget, the Olkiluoto plant in Finland is currently nine years overdue and 60% over budget, and two plants in China are both expected to be at least two years behind schedule. With reports over the weekend that sources within EDF are suggesting that Hinkley Point C may also be late and over-budget, the case is mounting that Hinkley Point C is a risky gamble at the expense of British bill-payers.
Good Energy 29th July 2017 read more »