The UK is one step nearer to a brand new nuclear energy plant after the federal government introduced an extra £14.2bn in funding.
Sizewell C, close to the city of Leiston on the Suffolk coast, is because of be up and operating by the mid-2030s.
Whereas the federal government claims the brand new facility represents a “golden age of clean energy” and says it can create 1000’s of jobs – these in opposition to it warn of the catastrophic penalties of a nuclear accident and injury to the native setting.
Right here we take a look at what is because of be constructed on the Sizewell website – and why the mission is so controversial.
What’s Sizewell C?
The brand new website will home two nuclear reactors – producing as much as 3.2 gigawatts of electrical energy, which is sufficient to energy six million properties.
The federal government says it might meet 7% of the nation’s whole vitality wants for as much as 60 years.
It was initially proposed by the French vitality firm EDF and China’s Normal Nuclear Energy Group, however the earlier authorities purchased the Chinese language firm out of its 20% stake in 2022.
Collectively, the UK authorities and EDF now personal 83.5% of the positioning.
It’s situated close to Sizewell seashore – subsequent to Sizewell A, a decommissioned nuclear website that opened in 1967, and Sizewell B, which continues to be operating – and was the final nuclear website to open within the UK in 1995.
Picture:
The proposed new plant heads up a raft of latest clear vitality measures. Pic: EDF
Earlier funding bulletins imply the state has now invested a complete of £17.8bn, with a ultimate funding mannequin because of be launched this summer time after personal traders are secured to bridge the hole to the overall £20bn value.
Taxpayer cash is anticipated to contribute £700m.
Picture:
Sizewell in Suffolk within the east of England
How lengthy has it been within the making?
The mission dates again to 2008, when then Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared the UK wanted to spice up its nuclear capability.
There are 4 nuclear websites operating within the UK – at Heysham, Hartlepool, Torness, and Sizewell B.
In 2010, the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition earmarked Sizewell as a possible new website.
EDF started consulting with locals within the space in 2012, lastly submitting its growth consent order in Might 2020.
Picture:
The Sizewell A and B energy stations in Suffolk. Pic: Reuters
It was granted in July 2022 regardless of the Planning Inspectorate’s suggestions it ought to be blocked over environmental considerations.
It additionally fought off a judicial overview on the Courtroom of Attraction introduced by protest group Collectively In opposition to Sizewell C.
Building by EDF is because of begin within the subsequent 12 months – and is about to take between 9 and 12 years.
Picture:
The Suffolk Coast with Sizewell B within the background. Pic: Reuters
Why are individuals in opposition to it?
Two marketing campaign teams – Collectively In opposition to Sizewell C and Cease Sizewell C – have spearheaded efforts to dam the positioning.
Domestically, they are saying building will injury 150 hectares of land close by, which is residence to 2 completely different nature reserves and 1000’s of birds, animals, and plant species. The attraction additionally cited considerations it might compromise native water provides and will run over funds or fail to even get off the bottom just like the now-scrapped HS2 trainline.
Extra usually, nuclear energy could be very controversial.
Whereas it doesn’t produce carbon emissions like conventional fossil fuels, any nuclear exercise is exceedingly high-risk.
Nuclear fission is the method by which uranium atoms are damaged down into smaller particles to provide warmth, which is then boiled to create steam that powers generators to create electrical energy.
The Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company says all its regulated websites are the “safest and most secure facilities in the world” and topic to strict unbiased security measures.
However high-profile nuclear accidents, though extremely uncommon, have leaked lethal radiation into the ambiance, killing individuals and sure poisoning others for generations to return.
These embody the explosion on the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine in 1986 and the partial meltdown of one of many reactors on the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan following a tsunami in 2011.
Nuclear fission additionally produces enormous quantities of radioactive waste, which must be safely saved for tons of of years and anti-nuclear campaigners fear in regards to the security of those storage websites.
Picture:
Collectively In opposition to Sizewell C campaigners exterior the Royal Courts of Justice in London in 2023. Pic: PA
What are the arguments for it?
The federal government needs to make use of nuclear vitality to assist meet its goal of web zero greenhouse fuel emissions by 2050.
Chief govt of the Nuclear Business Affiliation Tom Greatrex has described Sizewell C as a “huge step forward” each for web zero – and vitality safety.
The Ukraine warfare compromised international fuel and oil provides, a lot of which got here from Russia, sending costs rocketing.
Since then, Ukraine’s Western allies have made efforts to change into extra autonomous with vitality manufacturing.
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Britain’s nuclear sector grew by 1 / 4 to £20bn within the three years to 2024, with one other website at Hinkley Level in Somerset at the moment below building.
Some nations, like France, the place EDF relies, already rely closely on nuclear energy.
Sizewell C can even create 10,000 new jobs and 1,500 apprenticeships, boosting the native and UK economic system.
Round £330m has been tendered to native firms in contracts, with 70% of all these commissioned going to three,500 British suppliers.
Mr Greatex stated: “Sizewell C will provide reliable low-carbon power for more than 80 years, cutting gas use, creating thousands of high-quality skilled jobs, and long-term investment and opportunity up and down the country.”
