Nuclear power set to be extended according to British claims adjuster
The French energy group admitted that the two plants would be closed earlier than expected due to safety concerns. This would add a devastating blow to the government’s efforts to become carbon neutral by 2050.
The factories at Torness in Scotland and Heysham 2 in the North West of England are expected to close in 2030.
A spokesperson for the group for the UK said: “There is a risk for the 2030 deadline but nothing has changed so far.”
But Richard Bradfield, technical director of EDF, warned that it could “happen sooner” because of breaches in the reactors.
EDF Energy added that the two units at the plant had suffered a “prolonged shutdown” during which they “managed a series of unique, significant and ongoing technical challenges that were untraceable.”
EDF energy risks the closure of nuclear power plants in the United Kingdom (Image: Getty)
Torness nuclear power station in Scotland (Image: Getty)
Although many have been “overcome, a new detailed analysis has highlighted additional station-specific risks within some key components, including parts in fuel assemblies.”
Mr Bradfield expected more violations to emerge quickly at two other, older factories across the country, including Heysham 1 and Hartlepool.
These two factories are expected to close in 2024.
Last week, EDF announced the closure of its Dungeness B nuclear power plant in southern England.
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Heysham 2 factory in North West England (Image: Getty)
The factory has been closed since 2018 due to technical issues.
According to the Times, these issues show the “failing health of Britain’s nuclear fleet” and “raise questions about Britain’s ability to decarbonize its electricity supply.”
EDF Energy has already announced its intention to shut down its 990 MW Hunterston B plant in West Scotland.
In addition, the 940 MW EDF plant at Hinkley Point B in the west of England will also be shut down more than a year earlier due to graphite cracking issues.
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The French company has repeatedly stated that it intends to operate the Dungeness B plant until at least 2028 and potentially longer.
EDF said in the statement when construction began at Dungeness B in 1967, the plant was to “be the first in a new wave of UK nuclear power plants and has a design which is not copied anywhere else in the UK fleet” .
John Benn, the station manager, said in the statement that “EDF had to make a difficult decision – but it is the right one. It gives our teams, our community and our company a clear understanding of what it is. ‘to come up”.
The government has pledged to be carbon-free by 2050 as the threat of climate change continues to grow around the world.
Business Secretary Alon Sharma (Image: Getty)
In December, Mr Johnson announced an ambitious new target to cut UK emissions by at least 68% by 2030.
He said at the time: “We have proven that we can reduce our emissions and create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process – uniting businesses, academics, NGOs and local communities in a common goal of go further and faster to fight climate change.
“Today, we are taking the lead with an ambitious new goal of reducing our emissions by 2030, faster than any major economy, with our ten point plan helping us on the way to achieving it.
“But this is a global effort, which is why the UK is urging world leaders at next week’s Climate Ambition summit to come up with their own ambitious plans to cut emissions and set net targets zero.”
EDF could close nuclear power plants (Image: Getty)
Business and Energy Secretary and COP26 President Alok Sharma added: “Tackling climate change is one of the most urgent joint efforts of our lives, requiring bold action from every nation to prevent catastrophic global warming.
“As a country, we have demonstrated that we can both rapidly reduce carbon emissions while creating new jobs, new technologies and future industries that will generate economic growth for decades to come.
“The UK’s new emissions target is among the highest in the world and reflects the urgency and scale of the challenge facing our planet.”
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega
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This notice was published: 2021-06-15 17:14:00