In this update, we round up the past week’s news in the world of Nuclear.
UK electricity generation records its greenest year in 2020, by Power Technology – “Electricity generation in the UK was the greenest on record in 2020, according to the National Grid Electricity Systems Operator (ESO). The average carbon intensity over the year fell to 181g of CO₂ per kilowatt hour (gCO₂/kWh), a reduction of 66% over the last seven years.”
Horizon withdraws Wylfa planning application, by World Nuclear News – “ Horizon Nuclear Power, the UK project developer owned by Japan’s Hitachi, has withdrawn its application for planning consent for the Wylfa Newydd nuclear power plant. Earlier this month, Horizon had for the second time secured a deferral on a decision for the Development Consent Order for the project on Anglesey.”
World’s first Hualong One reactor put into commercial operation, by PR Newswire – “The Unit 5 of China’s Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant, the world’s first Demonstration project to adopt China’s indigenous Generation III nuclear power technology Hualong One, also known as HPR1000, was put into commercial operation, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced on Jan. 30th.”
Costs Rise as Virus Delays Hinkley Nuclear Build, by Power Magazine – “The developer of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project said impacts from the coronavirus pandemic may delay construction of the new reactors by six months, and raise the project’s costs by nearly £500 million ($700 million).”
Jeff Bezos Is Backing an Ancient Kind of Nuclear Fusion, by Popular Mechanics – “Magnetized target fusion (MTF) dates back to the 1970s, when the U.S. Naval Research Lab first proposed it. But MTF’s proponents say the technology is now bearing down to reach the commercial power market.”
