A seaweed solution is being sought by EDF Energy to prevent cooling water being clogged up with seaweed. Hunterston B has made an application to Marine Scotland to remove seaweed from the seabed next to the cooling water intake jetty to help to reduce the amount of seaweed entering the cooling water system. The consultation period on the application has ended, responses have been received and the station is awaiting a license decision from Marine Scotland. Two years ago, a reactor at the nuclear power station had to be taken offline due to high levels of seaweed in the waters around the plant. The plant relies on water taken from the sea for cooling. Back in 2015, in a letter to stakeholders, station director Colin Weir said: “Hunterston B power station’s reactor 3 was manually shut down at 18.40 on Monday 1 June due to severe seaweed ingress, accompanied by strong winds and storm surges. “This was done as a precautionary measure when it was clear that the seaweed levels weren’t reducing. “Reactor 4 was also reduced in power and remains operating at a reduced power.” Mr Weir said staff at the station were monitoring the weather and seaweed levels would begin the return to normal service when it was determined conditions were “in a stable state”. At the time, cooling to the reactor was maintained at all times and there were no health, safety or environmental impacts.
Largs and Millport News 20th Oct 2017 read more »
