All 116 of the novel T-pylons on National Grid's Hinkley Connection in the UK have now been completed. The 57-kilometre connection route will connect low-carbon energy from EDF Energy's Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant to six million UK homes and businesses whilst also allowing for more capacity on the network for renewable energy from the South West peninsular.
The first new nuclear reactor vessel for a UK power station for more than 30 years arrived in February on the Somerset construction site of the Hinkley
Hinkley Point B nuclear station to close ‘early’ due to aging graphite blocks
Nuclear Engineering International 3rd March 2021, REPORTS IN THE UK THAT EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point B station would close ‘early’, in 2022, sounded a strange note for nuclear industry veterans. They knew that the venerable advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) on the west coast, on its startup in 1979, was originally expected to have a lifetime of around 25 years.
But in fact, it has been in operation for 40 years and could have more than one more year remaining, if owner EDF Energy takes it to its final end date in mid 2022. But those newspapers had noted that EDF had hoped to delay final shutdown until 2023. For longstanding opponents of the plant, however, closure comes not a moment too soon and they believe equally that operation should end at the UK’s remaining AGRs.
The Environment Agency has told the Chinese nuclear developer behind plans to build a new reactor in Essex that it must resolve at least six safety issues before it can move forward. The issues identified by the environment watchdog in its early assessments of the plans for the site in Bradwell include concerns over how China General Nuclear Group (CGN) will dispose of radioactive waste. The agency has opened a consultation calling for views on.