Regulators to assess deployment of new nuclear reactors in the UK

The UK ABWR is planned for deployment by Horizon Nuclear Power at two sites: Wylfa Newydd on the Isle of Anglesey (pictured above), and Oldbury-on-Severn in South Gloucestershire.

The 12-week consultation will run from 12 December 2016 to 3 March 2017.

It will seek public opinion on the preliminary conclusions of the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales regarding the environmental aspects of the design, explaining how they’ve conducted their assessment, their findings from the assessment and what will happen next, the Nuclear Industry Association said in a statement about the consultation.

President of Hitachi-GE Hidetoshi Takehara said: “The consultation is another great opportunity to engage with the assessment, to make comments and ask questions. We have worked hard with the regulators for nearly four years to facilitate their assessment of our design – we are pleased that EA and NRW are ready to put their preliminary finding to the public for comment.

“The UK ABWR is a tried, tested and proven operational design. We look forward to sustained progress through GDA, and are optimistic that UK ABWRs will play a vital role in providing clean, secure and affordable energy to the UK in the years ahead.”

The GDA (Generic Design Assessment) process is designed to ensure that new nuclear power stations built in the UK meet the high standards of safety, security, environmental protection and waste management necessary.

The UK government has also launched a small modular reactor (SMR) development programme.

Originally announced as part of the 2015 Autumn Statement, the SMR development programme was designed to position the UK as a global leader in innovative nuclear technologies.