Hinkley Point

Hinkley Point

Posted Sat, 25/09/2010 - 12:52pm by admin

Hinkley Point consists of two nuclear power stations.

Hinkley Point A consists of two Magnox reactors. Both reactors were shutdown in April 1999 to carry out reinforcement work following a Nuclear Installations Inspectorate Periodic Safety Review. Reactor 2 was returned to service in September 1999, but shut down on 3 December 1999 because of newly identified uncertainties in the reactor pressure vessel material properties. Because of the cost of remedying these problems, it was announced on 23 May 2000 that Hinkley Point A would be shutdown.

Hinkley Point B is an Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) which was designed to generate 1250 MW of electricity (MWe).

In 2006 the station's reactors were closed for testing microscopic defects that had been found in similar reactors. Due to the fact it is ageing, it will, if it returns to full service, only generate 570 MW per reactor instead of the rated 625 MWe, in total producing 1140 MWe. However on 16 August 2006 the company warned that until a decision was made over whether to extend its usable life, it would operate at a maximum of 70 per cent load. Both reactors were subsequently restarted generating 420 MWe each, roughly 70% of full power. The number 4 reactor was cleared for restart by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate on 11 May 2007. The power station current accounting closure date in 2016, though it could possibly be life-extended beyond that date.

In September 2008 it was announced, by Electricité de France (EDF) the new owners of Hinkley Point B, that a third, twin-unit European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) reactor is planned for Hinkley Point, to join Hinkley Point A (Magnox), which is now closed and being decommissioned, and the Hinkley Point B (AGR) which is due for closure in 2016.

On 18 October 2010 the British government announced that Hinkley Point was one of the eight sites it considered suitable for future nuclear power stations.

Map Point: 

Energy giant EDF seeks high court injunction against protestors

Posted Sat, 18/02/2012 - 12:00am by admin

Energy giant EDF Energy today served papers on activists occupying a farm on the proposed site for nuclear new build at Hinkley Point in Somerset. The papers, served by legal firm Squire Sanders, are applying for possession of the premises and, in an unprecedented move, an injunction against future protests at this site.

Shana Stone said: “We will fight them all the way. This isn’t just about Hinkley Point, it’s about defending democracy, the rights of future generations and the entire direction of Britain's energy policy”

Hinkley Point Barnstormers - Occupiers aim to stop EDF land trash - video

Posted Thu, 16/02/2012 - 4:02pm by DanV

"shannonsmy23" writes:

"This film gives an account of the first few days of the occupation of Langborough Farm on the site of one of the proposed 'new wave' of Nuclear Reactors, at Hinkley point in Somerset. The activists took occupancy in the early hours of Sunday the 12th of February and are settling in to their new home and community.

Activists needed to defend squatted farmhouse at nuclear power plant

Posted Tue, 14/02/2012 - 6:47pm by admin

Activists are needed urgently to help defend a farmhouse that has been squatted to stop EDF Energy trashing land for a new nuclear power station in Somerset. Anti-nuclear campaigners have been joined by members of Seize the Day as the first residents of Edf-Off Cottage next to Hinkley Point nuclear power station.

Following an occupation of trees last week, the campaign against two new mega-reactors being built on fragile coastal land has now moved to a nearby farmhouse.

Nuclear Reactor site occupied

Posted Mon, 13/02/2012 - 11:07am by admin

Protesters have for the second time in a week occupied the development site at Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset.

Hinkley Tree Protesters Evicted

Posted Wed, 08/02/2012 - 12:00am by admin

Protesters occupying trees at Hinkley Point in Somerset were evicted today by police and a 5-man climbing team hired by the French company EDF. The mature oak woodland is due to be cleared this month so that preliminary work can begin on building 2 new nuclear reactors and a radioactive waste dump at the site.

The eviction came around 11am, after the occupiers had spent a sleepless night in sub-zero temperatures. One of the occupiers, Michael, said “Security guards and dog-handlers kept us awake all night with taunts and intimidation from barking dogs.”

New energy secretary’s appointment underlines unhealthy relationship between government and nuclear sector

Posted Tue, 07/02/2012 - 4:13pm by admin

Anti-nuclear campaigners have slammed the decision to appoint Ed Davey as the new Energy and Climate Change Secretary as further evidence of the unhealthily close relationship between the government and the nuclear energy sector.

Campaign group, Kick Nuclear, has learned that Davey’s brother, Henry, is a partner at Herbert Smith, a law firm that has a long-standing relationship with the nuclear giant EDF Energy. Herbert Smith’s website declares that it is, ‘proud to be at the vanguard of next generation nuclear in the UK’.

Hinkley Point: Protesters take to the trees to prevent clearance for nuclear power station

Posted Tue, 07/02/2012 - 3:37pm by admin

Activists opposed to nuclear energy have begun an occupation of trees threatened by the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Police have so far declined to intervene.

Anti-nuclear campaigners are outraged that clearance work has already started on the 400-acre site earmarked by EDF Energy for the construction of two new mega-reactors even through full planning consent has not yet been granted.

Michael Hunt, one of three tree occupiers, said:

Concerned Locals take to the Trees at Hinkley Point near Bridgwater, Somerset. 7th February 2012

Posted Tue, 07/02/2012 - 10:40am by admin

Early this morning, concerned locals occupied threatened, ancient trees at the proposed site for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, near Bridgwater in Somerset. Michael Hunt, one of the tree occupiers said of their action :

“We're here to stop work on this criminal development and to protect the ancient trees that are surrounded by a special conservation area but mysteriously excluded from it“.

All work on Hinkley Point C nuclear power station must be halted

Posted Mon, 06/02/2012 - 11:23pm by admin

Stop Hinkley campaigners are highlighting the significance of the report [1], ‘A Corruption of Governance?’ in relation to Électricité de France’s (EdF) new nuclear build project, Hinkley Point C, in Somerset.