- Toshiba and GDF SUEZ complete NuGen deal
- Europe’s largest new nuclear project moves forward
- First of three Westinghouse AP1000® reactors targeted for operation in 2024
- NuGen’s Moorside to provide nearly 7% of UK’s future electricity requirements
- Moorside project forecast to create between 14,000 and 21,000 UK jobs
- Moorside will be UK’s biggest new nuclear output from a single site
- Project to be largest-ever private investment in West Cumbria
- Moorside’s reactors to be fuelled by the Westinghouse UK fuel fabrication facility in Preston
NUGEN TODAY (30 June) warmly welcomed news of a change in its shareholding that sees Toshiba partner GDF SUEZ in a new joint-venture to take forward its Moorside nuclear project in West Cumbria.
The news, which gives the UK’s nuclear sector a major boost, confirms plans that NuGen intends to build three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors on land to the north and west of the Sellafield site in West Cumbria, with a combined output of 3.4GW.
The project will become the UK’s biggest new nuclear output from a single site – and Europe’s largest new nuclear construction plan.
The combination of owners Toshiba and GDF SUEZ will form a powerful joint-venture to drive the project forward – with Westinghouse as technology provider. The Moorside project will be the largest-ever private investment in West Cumbria.
As part of today’s announcement by Toshiba and GDF SUEZ, a new NuGen management team will also be formed, under the leadership of Chief Executive Sandy Rupprecht.
He will be concentrating on immediate project milestones such as site assessments, site lay-out, and recruitment of leading nuclear professionals to join the project.
Each of the three Westinghouse reactors will take approximately four years to build. When fully operational, the Moorside site is expected to deliver around seven percent of the UK’s future electricity requirements – the most from any single nuclear site in Britain.
A deal has also been concluded with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) on the extension of a land option agreement for the Moorside site.
When fully operational, NuGen’s three Moorside reactors will deliver enough low-carbon electricity to power six million homes. The first reactor is targeted to come online in 2024 – with full commercial operation of 3.4GW targeted to be delivered by 2026.
The fuel for the reactors will be supplied by the Springfields Fuel Fabrication facility near Preston, securing indigenous UK fuel supply.
The Moorside project supports the UK Government’s low-carbon and energy security objectives at a time when existing power plants are retiring and low-carbon generation is required to meet national and international commitments.
The Westinghouse AP1000 reactor—a pressurised water reactor—is licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Currently, eight AP1000 reactors are under construction globally. The AP1000 has completed stage 1 of the UK regulator’s Generic Design Assessment (GDA).
Commenting on the news of the deal between Toshiba and GDF SUEZ, new NuGen CEO Sandy Rupprecht said the company would be powering forward with Europe’s largest new build project.
“Moorside is the most exciting new nuclear build project in Europe, without a doubt. We will be taking forward our project in West Cumbria, the UK’s nuclear heartland – and we expect the national and regional economies to benefit extensively from the Moorside development.”
“We will be working closely with our stakeholders, to keep them informed and included in the process, and we will be working towards building a robust business case for the project.”
“We will also be looking for the best people to come and join us, to support our project.”
NuGen will be focusing on site assessments and site lay-out in 2014 and in to next year, when it will undertake its first public consultation on its plans.
