Plans for Cumbria energy hub include nuclear plant
A consortium of 15 companies and trade unions, including French nuclear giant EDF, have made proposals for a clean energy hub, including a large nuclear plant in Cumbria.
Japan’s Toshiba Corp had been expected to build a nuclear plant at the site in Moorside site, but withdrew after the company’s nuclear unit Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy the year in 2017.
Britain last year set a target to reach net zero emissions by 2050, which will require a huge increase in low-carbon electricity such as wind, solar and nuclear.
The Moorside Clean Energy Hub (MCEH) group said the proposals include a 3.2 gigawatt EPR nuclear power plant, the same technology and size as the Hinkley Point C plant which EDF is currently building with China’s CGN. The plant is expected to provide around 7% of UK electricity supply.
MCEH is also considering other nuclear technology such as small modular reactors, and said nuclear plants could be linked with renewables, storage and hydrogen production.
