Sizewell C nuclear power station
Sizewell C nuclear power station is a proposed project to construct a 3,200 MWe nuclear power station with two EPR reactors in Suffolk, England. The project has been proposed by a consortium of EDF Energy and China General Nuclear Power Group, which own 80% and 20% of the project respectively. The power station is expected to meet 7% of the UK's demand when it comes into service.
The project is expected to be completed in the year 2031, with construction taking between 9 and 12 years depending on developments at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station which is also being developed by EDF Energy, and which shares major similarities with the Sizewell plant.
History
In 2008, the government decided that new nuclear sites should be constructed on existing sites to replace the UK's ageing fleet of reactors. In 2010, the government revealed that Sizewell was one of the 8 sites that it intended to allow the development to occur at. Following this, EDF Energy put forwards proposals for the Sizewell site in November 2012, where it planned to construct two EPR reactors.In 2015 as a part of the government's strategy to open the UK up to China, it was reported that after talks with China agreements had been made to develop three nuclear power plants including Sizewell C, Hinkley Point C and Bradwell B, however agreements had not yet been made over financing the Sizewell project, with the final agreement likely to be made after the construction of Hinkley Point C had started.
On 21 October 2015, EDF Energy announced that it had 'agreed the Heads of Terms of a wider UK partnership for the joint development of new nuclear power stations at Sizewell in Suffolk and Bradwell in Essex' with CGN. At the same time, EDF Energy also announced that it 'will take an 80% share and CGN will take a 20% share' during the development phase of the project.
Following extensive consultation with the local community, EDF submitted its planning application in May 2020, declaring that 25,000 job opportunities will be created and targeting 70% of the investment to be spent in UK. The plant will largely replicate the Hinkley Point C design to reuse experience, lower cost and ensure high levels of safety. The proposal was welcomed by Unite the Union.
On 27 May 2020, EDF Energy announced that it had submitted a development consent order application. However EDF has yet to organise financing, and cannot take on more construction risk in the UK. EDF is looking to the UK government to assist on financing either by offering a Regulated Asset Base model used on less risky infrastructure, though that puts an immediate cost burden on end consumers, or through other approaches such as a government equity stake in the development.
On 30 June 2020, EDF Energy announced that it had applied to the Office for Nuclear Regulation for a licence to build and operate Sizewell C. The ONR is responsible for the safe operation of nuclear sites in the UK and for permitting new nuclear site licencesone of the key regulatory requirements for building and operating a new power station.
Timeline
| Stage | Status | Date Completed | Notes |
| Statement of community consultation | Completed | ||
| Stage 1 consultation | Completed | 6 February 2013 | |
| Updated statement of community consultation | Completed | ||
| Stage 2 consultation | Completed | 3 February 2017 | |
| Stage 3 consultation | Completed | 29 March 2019 | |
| Stage 4 consultation | Completed | 27 September 2019 | |
| Review of Stage 4 responses | Completed | - | |
| Application submission | In Progress | - | |
| Decision | Not Yet Started | - | |
| Construction | Not Yet Started | - | |
| Operation | Not Yet Sarted | - |
Construction
The Sizewell C project is expected to take between 9 and 12 years to construct and commission. Time and cost savings are expected to be significant compared to the near-identical sister plant, Hinkley Point C. As a point of reference, construction of unit 2 at Hinkley Point has progressed at a much faster rate than unit 1, and EDF hopes to achieve similar economies at Sizewell C.Financing
The Sizewell C project is expected to cost £18 billion. The project is being led by EDF Energy and CGN, which own 80% and 20% of the project, respectively.EDF, as of June 2020, is looking to the UK government to assist on financing either by offering a Regulated Asset Base model, though that puts an immediate cost burden on end consumers, or through other approaches such as a government equity stake in the development as the company is unwilling to take on further risk within the UK. On 30 June, EDF announced that it had applied to the Office for Nuclear Regulation for a licence to build and operate Sizewell C.
On 14 July 2020, 32 companies and organisations from the UK nuclear supply chain formed a consortium to encourage the government to support the state-guaranteed financing model for Sizewell C, Regulated Asset Base, which the consortium says would reduce the cost of new nuclear projects by having consumers pay the cost upfront through their energy bills.