Reaction to UK Government investment in Hitachi’s Wylfa Project

5 June 2018: Greg Clark’s statement to Parliament on 4 June confirmed what EDF have told local campaigners; that there are intense discussions ongoing with the UK Government about the funding of new twin reactors at Sizewell. The announcement that the Government is prepared to take a multi-billion pound stake in Wylfa will naturally raise expectations that similar direct investment will be available to other new nuclear projects, despite the Secretary of State’s statement that private funding models are preferred. In recent months, EDF Chief Executive Simone Rossi has made it clear that “this must be the year” in which EDF determines the feasibility of its Sizewell project. Indeed such a demand has already been made by Barrow and Furness’ MP for the NuGen project at Moorside in Cumbria.

Charles Macdowell of the B1122 Action Group said: “We need urgent assurances that this change in government policy – to directly invest in new nuclear projects – will be accompanied by significant guarantees that local communities will be protected as much as possible from the negative environmental and social impact to which they will be exposed. Here in Suffolk that includes removing construction traffic from our country road, and dispersing accommodation for 2,400 construction workers.”

Paul Collins of TEAGS added: “EDF have repeatedly said that they expect to be able to slash the budget for building Sizewell C and D, and this raises serious concerns that the environmental impacts on this area of internationally protected habitats, surrounded by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will not be properly addressed. We note that Simone Rossi is visiting Suffolk at the end of June and repeat our request to meet with him and impress upon him the concerns we have for this tranquil and beautiful area.”

4 April 2018

The Times today quoted Simone Rossi of EDF as saying about Sizewell C, “This is the year where we need to understand whether this whole thing is really feasible or not. If we were to conclude that maybe it’s not feasible, then at that point maybe we say we are not in a position to continue the project.” The paper reported that EDF was threatening to halt development of Sizewell C unless it received assurances that a viable funding model existed. [1] EDF later reportedly distanced itself from The Times article. [2]

Reacting to these reports, Paul Collins and Alison Downes of Theberton and Eastbridge Action Group on Sizewell said:

“This is the second story this year concerning EDF’s desperation to save costs. Our almost non-existent faith that EDF will work in the best interests of east Suffolk’s environment and communities has taken yet another blow. It seems impossible that the aspirations of the project being an environmental exemplar, or the adoption of creative approaches to tackling issues such as transport and worker accommodation will be realised. Ultimately this special corner of Suffolk will be the loser.

Simone Rossi is making a great deal of noise about the future of this project. He needs to recognise that many of the delays have been of the company’s own making, and we think he owes it to the people of east Suffolk to come and hear our concerns face to face. We further urge government and our elected representatives not to be swayed by EDF’s imperatives and to robustly ensure that the company does not ride roughshod over affected communities.”

TEAGS is advocating:
* For EDF to reveal its Environmental Impact Assessments and demonstrate how its construction proposals reflect the very special circumstances of Suffolk’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and its unique environmentally-sensitive habitats including RSPB Minsmere, and how it will minimise habitat destruction, hydrology impacts, noise, light pollution and disruption to wildlife and visitors.
* An accommodation strategy fully integrated with the needs of local people for affordable housing. Despite strong objections, after Stage 1 EDF narrowed its options to a single location for a campus for 2,400 workers at Eastbridge, prematurely discarding other sites that have potential for legacy housing. Independent consultants Boyer and Cannon have identified a number of other possible sites with this potential.
* A dedicated access road. EDF admitted in November 2017 that road transportation is one of the most challenging aspects of the project and that it does not yet know if the B1122 or the junction with the A12 at Yoxford are fit for purpose.
* An open and transparent approach to understanding coastal processes and landside hydrology. EDF have to date avoided discussions on these issues with relevant stakeholders such as Suffolk Coast Against Retreat.

Notes
1. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/…/nuclear-site-in-danger-without….
2. East Anglian Daily Times http://www.eadt.co.uk/…/edf-denies-threat-to-abandon-work-o…

Sizewell C could pump £200m into region’s economy every year

PUBLISHED: 15:29 17 January 2018 |

Richard Cornwell

EDF Energy CEO Simone Rossi. Picture: EDF ENERGY

EDF Energy CEO Simone Rossi chatting to guests about his visit to Hinkley Point C. Picture: EDF ENERGY

He said: “The key to reducing the construction cost is replication. Doing something again with the same design makes it easier and cheaper. Let me give you an example.

“HPC has eight emergency generators. They had to be designed and certified to meet the standards required for nuclear safety.

“That means the first two will cost £38m, but the next six will be half the price. At Sizewell, none of that development or certification work needs to be done again. All its emergency generators will be at the lower price.

EDF Energy CEO Simone Rossi. Picture: EDF ENERGY

“Repeating that experience countless times for a power station at Sizewell that is largely identical to Hinkley Point C makes a capital cost reduction of 20% possible.”

Sizewell C could also be cheaper because the site has a grid connection capable of handling a bigger power station which could mean “substantial savings”.

Mr Rossi said the company and Government were exploring “alternative financing models” that can create the conditions where institutional investors like pension funds can participate when they were not able to before, again cutting costs.

Jim Crawford, EDF Energy’s nuclear development director for the proposed Sizewell C station, said the promised impact on skills and jobs in Somerset was already coming to fruition.

He said: “An estimated £200m is being spent in the south-west regional economy every year through the project. I will work hard in our region to bring the same benefits to the east from Sizewell C, as well as Bradwell B in Essex.

“I know Suffolk and the wider region can take advantage of the opportunities offered due to the entrepreneurial spirit of local business and the talent of people working in education, training and economic development.”

“EDF Energy has now been through two stages of formal consultation at Sizewell C and we are working with the Government over the coming months to see if we can take the project forward. We’re doing that because we see a unique opportunity for the proposed power station to provide the country with reliable, low carbon electricity at a significantly lower price than Hinkley Point C.

“That’s because Sizewell C will almost be identical to Hinkley Point.

“Repeating the approved design – already adapted for Britain – will save a lot of money.

“The chance for customers to benefit from these cost reductions means it would be a missed opportunity if we didn’t try to make Sizewell C happen. Nuclear contributes more jobs than other technologies too – not just the 5,600 who will build the power station, but also the 900 who will operate it for many decades.

“Sizewell C also matters because Britain still needs to have reliable low carbon energy source like nuclear in its future energy mix. We have a lot of wind in Britain and windfarms like those off Suffolk’s coast have an important and growing part to play in Britain’s energy future.

“EDF Energy supports wind development and thinks there should be as much as reasonably possible where the wind is strongest, in Scotland and offshore. That makes sense because wind prices have fallen in recent years. But wind can’t provide all the answers.

“Britain needs a low carbon energy that is reliable. With wind there is too little – or too much and the back-up power is an extra cost. Batteries have a role to play but the very high costs of battery storage over long periods means it is best suited for balancing our grid over minutes rather than hours. The UK just isn’t sunny enough for solar to provide energy to match demand.”

Campaigners though voiced fears that shaving up to £4billion off the cost of Sizewell C could hit mitigation measures.

Paul Collins and Alison Downes, of Theberton and Eastbridge Action Group on Sizewell, said there cannot be a “one size fits all” approach.

They said: “This leaves us concerned that our environment and our communities will become victims of EDF’s cost-cutting, and that measures we consider vital – such as a dedicated access road and an accommodation strategy fully integrated with the needs of local people for affordable housing – will be swept aside.

“The fragile Sizewell coast, that hosts unique environmentally-sensitive habitats and RSPB Minsmere, requires a complex and highly considered approach.

“EDF’s proposals must reflect the very special circumstances of Suffolk’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and we urge Simone Rossi to come to Suffolk and see for himself.”