Exclusive: EDF Energy mothballs planned Hinkley C nuclear power site
Thu 20 Aug 2015

The UK’s nuclear watchdog has stopped safety inspections at the planned site of the Hinkley C nuclear power station after EDF Energy ordered a stop to all groundwork, ClickGreen can reveal.

Despite recently publishing a list of preferred suppliers for the £24 billion project, the French firm were in behind-the-scenes talks with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), during which they informed them of their decision to mothball the site.

In April, bosses at contractors Nuclear New Build Genco (NNB) – a consortium including EDF Energy, China General Nuclear Corporation and investors – introduced a spending cap because of uncertainty surrounding the Final Investment Decision.

Preparations for construction continued to move forward, but all work has now been stopped and the site has been placed in a state of “care and maintenance”.

Hinkley C is supposed to be the first new nuclear plant in the UK since the 1980s and is scheduled to start producing electricity in 2023. EDF, however....

Austria files EU complaint against UK nuclear plant
EurActiv.com with AFP 06 Jul 2015
Werner Faymann

Austria has filed a legal challenge at the European Court of Justice against EU-granted state subsidies for a new nuclear power plant in Britain, government officials confirmed on Monday (6 July).

...Austria argues that the Hinkley Point C project is in breach of European law and risks distorting the energy market.

...Austrian Environment Minister Andrae Rupprechter said nuclear energy was no longer able to "survive economically" and should "not be artificially resuscitated through state subsidies".

"Instead of funding unsafe and costly energy forms that are outdated, we have to support Europe's energy turnaround with the expansion of renewable energies," he said.

Initially forecast to cost £16 billion ($25 billion, 22.6 billion euros), EU officials now estimate the project will require £24.5 billion....