New Power Station

[Georgiesmum]

What are your views on the government giving the go ahead to building a new power station at Hinkley, part funded by China?

[237SJ]

I wish they`d make it bigger and abandon the Atlantic Array..

[Georgiesmum]

I know we need it but im worried about the cost, to the country and to the environment.

[Georgiesmum]

No one has any views on it then?

[ivor4781]

if you knew how badly we need this power station would wouldnt be concerned about the cost,nuclear is the ONLY way to go ,wind turbines would need to cover the whole of the country to give as much power output as the big nuclear one and there only good if there's a wind,ive no concerns about who builds it or owns it

[Zacs-Master]

It does concern me that we've agreed to twice the unit cost at present. £16 billion I believe is the estimated cost which probably means it will be £32 billion. Let's hope that we haven't agreed to a cap on the construction costs. On the plus side, it is estimated that the build and running of the plant will create 25,000 new jobs.

[jno]

has anyone answered jake the peg's query about who pays for decommissioning? Because that's what really costs big money.

[jomifl]

decommissioning jno? it hasn't been built yet.

[Hypognosis]

Not a word in the BBC's news coverage pertaining to how high above sea level the Hinkley Point site is.

It's about 500 years since the last tsunami-like event hit the area but the Severn estuary is the perfect shape to transform a trifling surge into a serious flood event.

Then there's sea-level rise to wonder about.

[LazyGun]

Since governments usually end up picking up the massive tab for decommissioning of nuclear power stations, recent contracts negotiations have included the cost of the decommissioning supposedly built into the overall contract.

[jomifl]

Hypo, the people who design power stations in the UK aren't as stupid as those who designed the fukushima plant.

[237SJ]

I think it`s a good thing. There is already a power station there so they won`t be creating an eyesore. The Chinese will foot the bill if it goes over budget, the South West has always been an unemployment blackspot so the creation of 25,000 new jobs is not to be sniffed at and money will be spent in the area (friends of mine with a property on Exmoor decided to rent it out so that they could buy something bigger and better. I thought she would never find a tenant but someone from Hinkley rented it). Anything is better than 240 wind turbines in the Bristol Channel but unfortunately, I doubt the development at Hinkley will make any difference.

[Zacs-Master]

Hypo.....judging by the artists impression on the beeb website it's virtually AT sea level
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24604218

[jomifl]

The tab is only massive if the site is reverted to a green field site. In practice the old reactor will be coccooned and the rest of the site used for a new power station. This means that the expensive cooling water culverts can be re-used and the old reactor is contained within a secure site. So in practice it may make the new PS. cheaper than it would have been if it had been built on a green field site.

[jomifl]

Zacs, you are correct it is not much above sea level. I used to visit the site regularly for many years and I am quite familiar with it. It is the nature of power stations to at least have their cooling water pumps below sea level:o) Some time ago ( a decade or more) A large and high wall was built to protect the lower parts of the site from a tidal surge. I expect the new station will take into consideration the possibility of a tsunami as there is evidence for them having happened here in the not too distant past.

[Nottm_George]

On the news today they said that by the time the new power station would be built the old power station would be decommissioned, so it is not extra energy we would be getting just replacement. As regards letting the Chinese and the French building it it goes with this government selling off the country by the back door, should someone tell the Queen that her country is disappearing.

[jno]

jomifl, it ought (you might hope) to be part of the plans for building, given the cost. I dug up a figure somewhere today that the cost of decommissioning current plant would be close to £100 billion. The plants don't last forever (even if the waste might).

[jomifl]

Zacs, if you look at the PS. site (west of Stolford)on google earth you can see the wall that I mentioned parallel with the shore between the 2 green areas on the site. As I recall it is at least 4 or 5 metres high.

[Zacs-Master]

Thanks jom.

[LazyGun]

I see you are back, Zacs :) You owe me a virtual pint :)

[Zacs-Master]

Noooo. Not yet LG. Let's chat in a years time.