THE reactor design for the proposed nuclear power plant in Cumbria is taking longer than expected to get approval. But the US firm behind the reactor, Westinghouse Electric, says it is confident the design for Moorside, at Sellafield, is safe and will get the go ahead. NuGen wants to build three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors at Moorside with a combined output of 3.6GW – enough to power six million homes and supply 7.5 per cent of the UK’s electricity needs. It is due to make a final investment decision in 2018, with work starting two years later. But the timetable is based on the design being approved in January 2017. That date now looks certain to slip. Westinghouse needs a design acceptance confirmation from the Office for Nuclear Regulation and a statement of design acceptability from the Environment Agency. The regulators have just issued a quarterly update warning of delays in the generic design assessment process. Their report says: “There has been closure programme slippage and a lack of technical convergence in some areas. “This means that we have still to agree with Westinghouse the full extent of the work required to close out all of the GDA issues.
In Cumbria 29th March 2016 read more »
Carlisle News and Star 29th March 2016 read more »