Wylfa B Reactor Vendors Sign Contracts

by J Williams
(Wales)

Horizon Nuclear Power has signed contracts for key early work on the proposed Wylfa B nuclear power station on Anglesey with Areva S.A and Nuclear Power Delivery UK.

French reactor designer Areva S.A and Nuclear Power Delivery U.K are the two vendors aiming to secure the final contract to construct a power station at Wylfa.

Nuclear Power Delivery is a subsidiary of Toshiba Westinghouse, and the other partners in the consortium are Laing O'Rourke and Shaw Group.

It is expected the preliminary work will be carried out until the end of 2010, while the two reactor designs submitted by the two vendors are subjected to a comprehensive and rigorous Generic Design Assessment (GDA).

The GDA is carried out by the nuclear regulators, the Nuclear Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency.

Studies to be carried out at the Wylfa Head site on Anglesey will aim to support reactor deployment by the competing vendors. This would either be two European Pressurised Reactors (EPR) by Areva or three AP1000 designed by Toshiba Westinghouse.

Alan Raymant, COO of Horizon Nuclear Power, said the company is already working with both potential vendors as part of the standard procurement phase to choose the preferred contractor.

Mr Raymant emphasised how working with both companies will assist Horizon to meet the required planning and licensing processes by enabling the company to achieve designs which are specific and suitable for the Wylfa location.

He also pointed out that "it will drive more competitive bids......be good for the consumer, keeping the price of energy down."

Looking at the bigger picture, Horizon Nuclear Power aims to have Wylfa B generating power by 2020 and contributing to its target of delivering up to 6GW nuclear capacity in the UK. The company has another site at Oldbury which would be expected to contribute to the overall total new generating capacity.

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