British Energy News
EDF Energy welcomes Energy National Policy Statements
9th November 2009
EDF Energy welcomes Energy National Policy Statements as ´defining moment´ on the road to secure, affordable and low carbon energy for UK consumers
CEO Vincent de Rivaz praises DECC’s ´strategic leadership´ in addressing the global challenge ahead of Copenhagen
EDF Energy said the publication today of the draft National Policy Statements (NPS) for the energy sector was a defining moment in the development of affordable, secure and low-carbon energy.
EDF Energy Chief Executive Vincent de Rivaz said the announcement marked a vital step on the road towards an affordable low-carbon future and demonstrated the significant progress made by the Government to deliver on its policies for a low-carbon Britain.
In particular, Mr de Rivaz welcomed the National Policy Statement for nuclear. He said there was a broad consensus for nuclear between the Government and the Conservatives which gave the company confidence to move ahead with its plans to develop low carbon, affordable energy on behalf of its customers.
Today’s announcement acknowledges the role that new nuclear will have in contributing a significant share of the 25GW of new generation it says the UK needs by 2025.
As the lowest cost low carbon technology nuclear power is a vital part of the mix to tackle climate change while keeping prices affordable for customers.
EDF Energy now looks forward to contributing to the consultation process to pave the way for the final NPS which will be published in 2010.
EDF Energy has already taken significant steps in its plans to build four new EPR nuclear reactors with the first operational by the end of 2017, subject to the right investment framework being in place.
Four EPRs would power up to 40% of all homes in the UK – a total of 10 million homes – and create many thousands of jobs across the UK.
EDF Energy’s Chief Executive, Vincent de Rivaz, said:
“Today´s announcement is a demonstration of strategic leadership by the Government towards addressing the global challenge of climate change.
“This is a defining moment on the road to a low carbon Britain, which has been reached because of the wide consensus of support for new nuclear that exists, including between industry, regulators, academics, scientists and politicians..
“The UK needs massive investment in infrastructure to meet its carbon targets and maintain energy security. As Ofgem recently highlighted, up to £200bn needs to be spent on energy infrastructure in the coming years. It is vital that this investment is in low carbon technologies. Nuclear is a vital part of that mix to help provide secure, affordable and clean energy.
Nuclear power is the lowest cost low carbon technology and directly benefits customers by tackling climate change while keeping prices as affordable as possible.
“In the future we will look back on today as a milestone which gave us real belief that together we can tackle climate change.
“For EDF Energy it means we can prepare to take the next steps in our plan for a multi-billion pound investment in the UK, which is already creating opportunities for the British supply chain.
“As a result of the contracts we have placed so far with 40 UK companies for preparatory work, there are 400 people in the UK supply chain already working on our new build project.
“For construction our project will lead to a further 150 contracts being let. There will be about 4,000 jobs on site at the peak during construction as well as nearly 1,500 direct jobs for the 60-year life of the plants.
“We were the first to announce firm plans for new nuclear in the UK and already our plans are attracting large numbers of graduates and engineers. There were 50 applicants for every place on this year’s nuclear graduate training programme and 850 applicants for 25 jobs in our Nuclear Engineer Development Programme.
“EDF Energy is convinced that it is in the public interest for the UK to build at least 15 GW of new nuclear capacity which would be sufficient to meet at least 30% of our electricity demand by 2030.
“In addition, there is a large consensus that recognises the importance of a strong carbon price. This will be a key focus of the forthcoming Copenhagen Summit which we hope will be a success. The coalition that supports a strong carbon market recognises this will facilitate decarbonisation by discouraging investment in carbon polluting plant and therefore promoting investment in low carbon technology.
EDF Energy plans to build its four EPRs at Hinkley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk with the first operational by the end of 2017, subject to the right investment framework being in place. Both sites were today named in the NPS. Four EPRs would power up to 40% of all homes in the UK – a total of 10 million homes.
EDF Energy will begin formal consultation at Hinkley Point later this month, with the aim to submit a planning application for the UK’s first new nuclear plant in 20 years by Summer 2010.
EDF Energy land at Hinkley Point in Somerset , Sizewell in Suffolk, Heysham in Lancashire, Hartlepool on Teesside and Bradwell in Essex are included in the NPS.
-ends-
Notes to editors
1. EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies. The new EDF Energy is the UK’s largest producer of electricity and the largest generator of low carbon electricity in Britain. Through Our Climate and Social Commitments we have launched the biggest environmental and social packages of any UK energy company. We produce around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from our nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. We provide power to a quarter of the UK’s population via our electricity distribution networks and supply gas and electricity to over 5.5 million business and residential customers. The company is a key player in national infrastructure projects including management of private electricity networks serving four London airports and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the country’s first major new railway in 100 years and has published plans to build up to four new nuclear power stations in the UK. EDF Energy and British Energy together employ nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK. EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2. EDF Energy has indicated that it would like to build four EPRs at Sizewell and Hinkley Point, with twin reactors at each site. Any new build at the sites would follow a full planning application process including appropriate consultation with the local community. EDF Energy and British Energy, which was acquired by EDF earlier this year, have been consulting with the communities around the sites over the last two years on the possibility and prospects for new build. In addition, a range of environmental, marine, transmission system and other studies have been carried out to determine their suitability and prepare them as candidates for new nuclear generation.
3. UK and local companies benefiting from the contracts placed so far include: Fugro Seacore Ltd – headquartered in Cornwall who are carrying out investigative studies of the seabed off the coast near Hinkley Point; Bristol based Structural Soils Ltd who are undertaking onshore investigations including soil and geotechnical studies; and Jacobs Engineering UK Ltd who are producing site and preliminary works assessments at Hinkley Point.
