UK Government approves EDF’s Sizewell C reactor

• 1 year, 9 months ago (2022-07-21)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 Nuclear 640

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The UK Government has approved a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the planned Sizewell C plant, based on EDF’s EPR design being used at Hinkley Point C.

The decision, which was reached with the Planning Inspectorate, recommends giving the new plant approval to proceed. However, it notes concerns over water supply strategy and the impact the new plant could have on natural habitats.

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration in May 2020 and accepted for examination in June 2020. The DCO will enter into force on 11 August 2022.

Kwasi Kwarteng, the UK Energy Secretary, noted the urgent need for new energy production, with: “The benefits outweighing the potential harms of the project.” In the approval letter, Kwarteng said: “For the UK to meet its energy and climate change objectives, the government believes that there is an urgent need for new electricity generation plant, including new nuclear power. Nuclear power generation is a low carbon, proven technology, which is anticipated will play an increasingly important role as we move to diversify and decarbonise our sources of electricity.”