OT Better news on Hinkley C

[Chris Hogg]

[Mike Tomlinson]

En el artículo , Chris Hogg escribió:

I predict the EU will step in to investigate whether it's an illegal state subsidy.

[Chris Hogg]

I did wonder about that in the 'More on Hinkley Point' thread. But they're French; they'll probably just shrug with a 'pfff' and ignore it.

But it does (and always did) mean that we'll be paying good money to them for the power it generates, as well as what we already pay for the interconnect (running at 2GW France to UK, most of the time). It'll just be another French nuke, but not on French soil!

[Mike Tomlinson]

En el artículo , Chris Hogg escribió:

H'm. Half Chinese-owned, with huge British taxpayer subsidies (and top- up guarantees if the rate of return to EdF and the Chinks isn't as high as predicted, 11%), plus subsidies and guarantees that ensure that EdF has minimal responsibility for the waste (i.e. the UK taxpayer picks up the bill, again.)

Not to mention the wholesale rate paid to EdF which is three times the current wholesale rate AND is also inflation-linked!

The problem with this project is, there are too many people with a finger in the pie, too much red tape, too much arse-covering, too much interference and too much political jockeying going on in the background.

Not to mention that EdF's identical EPR projects at Olkiluoto in Finland and at Flamanville are in big trouble; massively delayed and massively over budget. There are problems with the rector vessel at Flamanville - the steel is more brittle than specified, yet they are continuing to construct the reactor building around it. If the pressure vessel is condemned, the building will have the be demolished to replace it (!).

They are also building similar reactors at Taishan in China - less is known about those. Wikipedia: "As of December 2012 the two Taishan EPRs will cost about the same as the single EPR being built at the Finnish Olkiluoto". You have to wonder where corners are being cut.

I agree we need new nuclear and we need it yesterday, but it is maybe time to pull the plug on HPC and start again. with a clearly defined and non-negotiable set of objectives, and start from the position of a UK- managed, UK-centric and UK-controlled project with everyone else as subcontractors, not equal partners.

There seems to be a push to install lots of smaller plant rather then one or two f'off big ones and I have to say this is starting to look like the sensible option. They can be built using existing, proven designs on the site of closed-down plant - the infrastructure to connect to the grid is already there. Didcot, Longannet, Wylfa, Ferrybridge, Fiddler's Ferry, etc.

[The Natural Philosopher]

NO, you have to research where money has been wasted.

If only...

WE will see. There are two other projects well along the approvals curve IIRC.

[tim...]

and it's a such a good deal that EdF are laughing all the way to the bank and just can't wait to sign up

Oh wait a minute

tim

[Brian Gaff]

Just point them toward France and then come back and say it! :-)

Brian

[Mike Tomlinson]

Brian, I was referring to the French state handout (bailout, really) that EdF have just asked for and been granted. This is the Guardian article that Chris referred to in the first post of this thread.

This is in addition to the UK's £2bn underwriting of Hinkley Pt C which was scrutinised by the EU to see if it amounted to an illegal state subsidy.

HTH Mike

En el artículo , Brian Gaff escribió:

[harry]

Heading for disaster. Especially when the EUSSR collapses.