The government expects solar and wind power to be cheaper than new nuclear power by the time Hinkley Point C is completed, its own projections show. Theresa May’s government last month made a surprise decision to delay a deal on Hinkley, prompting a renewed look at what alternatives could power Britain if ministers this autumn fail to back new reactors in Somerset. An unpublished report by the energy department shows that it expects onshore wind power and large-scale solar to cost around £50-75 per megawatt hour of power generated in 2025. New nuclear is anticipated to be around £85-125/MWh, in line with the guaranteed price of £92.50/MWh that the government has offered Hinkley’s developer, EDF. On previous forecasts, made in 2010 and 2013, the two renewable technologies were expected to be more expensive than nuclear or around the same cost. This is the first time the government has shown it expects them to be a cheaper option. The figures were revealed in a National Audit Office (NAO) report on nuclear in July. “The [energy] department’s forecasts for the levelised cost of electricity of wind and solar in 2025 have decreased since 2010. The cost forecast for gas has not changed, while for nuclear it has increased,” the NAO said.
Guardian 11th Aug 2016 read more »
With the proposal for a new power station at Hinkley Point looking set for the junkyard, let’s show them what we – the people – really want: more solar PV! Here at Brighton Energy Coop we’re just about to close our investment window for new solar PV at Infinity Foods’ warehouse in Portslade; if you’re quick we can just about accept new investment. Solar PV is a much better bet that giant nuclear white elephants. Renewable energy is already producing more electricity than the UK’s nuclear power plants – and most of our renewable capacity has been built in the last six years. Hinkley has already been in planning for longer than that – with no end of further blahblahblah in sight.
Brighton Energy 11th Aug 2016 read more »