ClimateandFuel

UK Power station generation plans

Total generating capacity 78,000MW installed includes wind capacity 3,800 MW, solar 10 MW (04 08)

Comment.

The EU require the UK to raise renewables from 2% now to 15% in 2020 and 10% fuel from Biofuel (although the CO2 saving with bio may be small if any ). 10% (up to 8600 MW) could come from the Severn barrage project if decided on. (There are 5 alternatives being considered ref 192.)

The UK was one of the first countries to build Nuclear power stations. The initial plans were to base all or most future power supply on Magnox CO2 cooled reactors and Advanced Gas CO2 Reactors, followed by Fast Breeder Reactors to utilise all the fuel potential and eliminate coal fired power stations, then predominant. With the availability of north sea gas and oil in the 70's, costs of the fast reactor at Dounreay rising, the nuclear industry slowed and new construction ceased with the loss of much engineering expertise. Now with a fresh need for nuclear power this expertise will have to be rebuilt.

France (who didn't have such fuel resources) continued building nuclear reactors so now 75 % of power generation in France comes from nuclear and with barrage and hydro most of the power supply in France is free of CO2 emissions. djt

Future plans in the UK are to install 33,000 MW of wind generation around the coast of the UK; 5,500MW by 2013, 20,000 MW offshore by 2020. This will require 3 turbines a day, which is not so far being achieved. Wind power has a low load factor circa 30% to 40%, tidal circa 70%, whereas nuclear nuclear load factors can reach 90%.

Generation three Nuclear design options in UK see advanced nuclear page.

• The European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) by EDF/AREVA . Standardised design in France. 1600MW.Fuel uranium dioxide. Passive and active safety systems.
• AP 1000 Westinghouse standard pressurised water reactor (PWR) design based on successful AP600. Fuel uranium dioxide. Passive safety system relies on gravity and natural circulation.
• Advanced CANDU reactor. AECL ACR1000.
• Advanced Boiling Water Reactor ESWBR by GE

After planning, licences should be granted to build in 2011, work begin in 2012-2013, and generation start 2017-2018. This long time delay of 8-9 years will leave a shortfall in generation capacity to be filled with extra gas generation.

Current Nuclear power stations

Operational	MW output	Dates live	Shut down
Oldbury (magnox)	Shut down		Sizewell A(magnox)
Wylfa (magnox)	Shut down	+	Berkeley(magnox)
Heysham 1 AGR	2390	1989-2014 -2023	HunterstonA(magnox)
Hinkley point B AGR	860	1976-2016 +	Dungness A (magnox)
Hunterston B AGR	840	1976-2016	Trawsfynydd(magnox)
Dungness B AGR	1090	1985-2018	Dounreay (fast reactor)
Hartlepool AGR	1190	1989-2014	Hinkley Point A (magnox)
Heysham 2 AGR	2390	1988- 2014-2023	Bradwell(magnox)
Torness AGR	1250	1988-2023	Calder Hall (magnox)
Sizewell B PWR	1180	1995-2035 +	Chapelcross(magnox)
		+ sites for new reactors

AGR- Advanced Gas (CO2) cooled Reactor ---Stainless steel cans, enriched Uranium.

Magnox - First round of nuclear reactors in UK - Magnox cans, natural uranium, CO2 cooled.

Prospects for permanent CO2 storage in North Sea sandstone off UK at 3 mile depth

Potential in UK North Sea areas is for 40 giga tonnes of CO2 to be liquefied and stored over 200+years in sandstone (porous) capped with mudstone at 3 mile depth.

900MW Coal fired IGCC (scrolldown) power station near Hatfield colliery, saving 5 million tonnes of carbon per year; other proposals for carbon capture at UK coal fired power stations at Kingsnorth (Eon), Longannet (Scottish Power) and Tilbury (RWE).

Tidal turbine prospects in the UK

Future locations of fast tidal flow see also Tidal page:-

• Stangford Lough, Co Down North Ireland.
• Angles N Wales.
• Pembroke S Wales.
• Humber estuary near Grimsby.
• Pentland Firth Between Scotland coast and Orkneys (potential 10,000MW or 15% UK energy.
• Off Isle of Wight.

Tidal Barrages - potential to supply 10% of UK energy needs (Poritt)

The severn project could produce up to 8600 MW depending on physical size of project.