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Horizon back in focus Most read stories

UK regulators raise issue with ABWR 30 October 2012 design will take f orward the Horizon project, Related having secured the company with a bid of £696million ($1.1 Stories Reactor vessel cavity installed at billion). Between f our and six boiling water reactors are now Vogtle 4 slated f or construction in Britain. Horizon scanning The Japanese firm now takes ownership of the project company set up by Ukraine prepares to cancel Today's the day Khmelnitski agreement with Russia EOn and RWE to develop new reactors at two UK sites: Wylfa and for Horizon Oldbury. It will "immediately" set about securing generic design acceptance for its Advanced Boiling Water Reactor from the UK nuclear Brazilian AP1000 collaboration f or safety regulators. Westinghouse WNA Links With that approval, as well as planning permission, Hitachi would then be able to go "New nuclear isn't Virginia can lead nuclear o nly abo ut keeping Nuclear Power in renaissance, report says ahead with building the units. Two or three the United reactors are planned for each site, with the t he light s o n and emissio ns do wn. It 's Kingdom first one in operation before 2025. Reactor vessel installed at Barakah an indust rial st rat egy 2 The announcement of Hitachi as Horizon's wit h big po t ent ial wins." buyer marks the end of a period of Related Links EOn supports early closure of uncertainty for Horizon's 90 staff as well as Ed Davey Oskarshamn units for the UK government's policy to encourage Secret ary o f St at e Horizon Nuclear private investment in new nuclear power. EOn f o r Energy and Power Russia's Atomstroyexport pulls out and RWE decided to sell Horizon last year, Climat e Change citing pressures on their businesses. The Hitachi of Ukraine biggest of these pressures, of course, was the overnight shutdown of EDF Energy eight large reactors in Germany as a reaction to the Fukushima accident. Nuclear Industry But despite that setback the UK remains determined to make nuclear Association power part of its energy, industrial and climate strategies. Prime minister Department of The public inform ation m ission of World Nuclear News is supported and m ade possible by the David Cameron said that Hitachi's investment "will contribute vital new Energy and m em bers of the World Nuclear Association. infrastructure to power our economy," while secretary of state for energy Climate Change and climate change Ed Davey said, "New nuclear isn't only about keeping the lights on and emissions down. It's an industrial strategy with big potential wins."

Speaking for Hitachi, said: "Today starts our 100-year commitment to the UK and its vision to achieve a long-term, secure, low- carbon and affordable " Nuclear Industry Council

Underlining its comments about the importance of nuclear energy to Britain, the government today announced the creation of a Nuclear Industry Council, intended to help UK nuclear exporters compete internationally. This is in line with a desire to "build a strong industrial strategy." The role of chairing the council shared by government ministers and Nuclear Industry Association chairman Lord Hutton. One of the first things for the council will be to publish a Nuclear Supply Chain Action Plan, which is already under development.

Another player in UK new build is EDF, which is preparing to build Areva EPRs at Hinkley Point and Sizewell. It welcomed the new council as well as Hitachi's purchase of Horizon, which it said was "a clear demonstration of the UK creating the right investment cliamte for new nuclear." The third consortium is NuGeneration, comprised of Iberdrola and GDF- Suez. It has rights to a large portion of land alongside in Cumbria and is proposing a multi-reactor there named Moorside.

Producing around 1300 MWe each, Hitachi's total fleet of British ABWRs could reach 7800 MWe. This compares to Horizon's previous plan to build up to 6600 MWe, with all of that fleet in operation by 2025. Hitachi has not yet made public who it intends to operate the units - whether it will develop its own capability or find a partner.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

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Filed under: Industry associations, New build, Energy policy,

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