New nuclear development

Nuclear power and the Energy NPS

In July 2011, the Government announced its suite of Energy National Policy Statements, including one setting out the requirements for new nuclear development in England and Wales.  The Nuclear National Policy Statement identified eight possible sites for new nuclear development and is a crucial step in securing the future of nuclear generation in the UK.  

At the time of the announcement, our main commitment to new nuclear development was through our joint venture with E.ON UK to form Horizon Nuclear Power. Horizon Nuclear Power had already secured land (sold for nuclear development by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) at Wylfa, on Anglesey, and Oldbury-on-Severn, in Gloucestershire.  The Nuclear National Policy Statement identified both sites as suitable for new nuclear development.

As RWE npower, we had also been assessing two sites for possible nuclear generation on the West Cumbrian Coast – Braystones and Kirksanton. Initially nominated into the Strategic Siting Assessment process in 2009, they were not included in the most recent Nuclear National Policy Statement.

Following our announcement in March 2012 that both E.ON UK and RWE npower have decided to withdraw from the Horizon Nuclear Power joint venture, we are undertaking a full review of our property portfolio and strategy. We need to complete this process prior to making a clear decision on the future of the Braystones and Kirksanton sites, and will keep the local communities informed as our analysis comes to a conclusion.