CBI makes new nuclear case as Hinkley milestone reached
EDF says Hinkley Point C is on target as the CBI backs its ambitions for a greater commitment to zero-emission technology.
Friday 28 June 2019 07:19, UK
A major business group has called on the government to commit to new nuclear power projects if the UK is to meet its net-zero carbon target of 2050.
The CBI set out a wish-list in a letter to the business secretary Greg Clark as the company behind the Hinkley Point C project - the only one currently under construction - announced a milestone moment.
EDF Energy said contractors had completed work on the base of the first of the two reactors, allowing construction of buildings above ground to begin.
The concrete base, reinforced with 5,000 tonnes of steel, took six months to finish.
The plant is due to be operational by the mid-2020s and will be able to produce enough electricity to power 7% of the country's needs.
The government sees new nuclear as crucial to the UK's mix of energy production as coal is phased out and replaced with renewables, such as solar and wind. Gas remains a core element.
But there have been several setbacks for its nuclear ambitions, with a number of schemes falling away because of funding difficulties including differences over the returns expected by investors.
They include the Moorside project in Cumbria and the Wylfa power plant on Anglesey.
EDF wants to build Sizewell C in Suffolk but concerns remain over the cost to energy customers of new nuclear.
It is an issue that continues to cloud Hinkley Point C, with critics claiming nuclear is dangerous and too expensive in an age of alternative zero-emission sources.
EDF Energy chief executive Simone Rossi said: "Hinkley Point C's progress is good news for anyone concerned about the climate change crisis.
"Its reliable low-carbon power will be essential for a future with no unabated coal and gas and a large expansion of renewable power.
"The innovation at Hinkley Point C sets up the opportunity to reduce costs for consumers for a near-identical power station at Sizewell C in Suffolk."
The CBI said there was an opportunity for government's looming energy white paper to not only commit to more new nuclear power but also assist the acceleration of carbon capture technology.
Its suggestions included incentives for consumers and businesses to buy electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
The organisation's chief economist, Rain Newton-Smith, said: "Business is right behind the need for the UK to have a net-zero economy by 2050 and build on our global leadership in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
"To deliver the Government's admirable net-zero policy by 2050, it is mission critical that business, politicians and the public work together to devise and make the necessary changes.
"Firms want to see a whole host of stable, long-term policies enacted - from building new nuclear power stations to scaling-up carbon capture and storage technology and infrastructure - that send markets a robust signal: the UK is open for green business, and is a world leader in tackling climate change."