Anglesey nuclear reactor plan clears major hurdle
Horizon Nuclear Power has submitted its application for a nuclear site licence to build and operate reactors at Wylfa Newydd.
A site licence is one of the main permissions Horizon will need as it looks to install UK advanced boiling water reactor (ABWR) units to Anglesey.
Receipt of the application by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) now triggers a rigorous 19-month programme of assessment and intervention.
The ONR will only grant a nuclear site licence (NSL) once it is satisfied that Horizon has met the 36 licence conditions and licensee obligations required to demonstrate it is capable and competent to install, operate and decommission a nuclear facility.
The site licence application (SLA) follows more than two years of preparation by Horizon and focuses on topics such as the suitability of the organisation, the suitability of the site and the suitability of its reactor design for use at the site.
If licensed, Horizon will then be regulated by the ONR for the full lifecycle of the site from construction to decommissioning.
Anthony Webb, safety and licensing director at Horizon, said: “Today’s announcement marks a significant development in the maturity and growth of Horizon as we get ready to build and operate our lead site at Wylfa Newydd.
“We already have a proven technology, aligned with experienced leadership, and we are rapidly building the wider capability and organisation to help ensure success.
“Our focus will now be fully on providing the ONR with confidence in our ability to safely deliver this crucial project.”
In preparation for yesterday’s announcement, Horizon recently created a site licence company board to be chaired by Duncan Hawthorne, chief executive officer of Horizon Nuclear Power.
The nuclear site licence application comes as Horizon prepares to undertake its final stage of community consultation in the summer ahead of submitting its development consent order (DCO) later this year.
Its UK ABWR reactor technology is also going through the fourth and final stage of its generic design assessment, on track to complete by the end of December.
Horizon is proposing to operate two UK ABWRs, designed by HitachiGE, each with an expected operational life of 60 years and generating a minimum of 2,700MW.
Although not currently licensed in the UK, ABWRs are already operational at four sites in Japan and are approved for use in the US and Taiwan.
If consent is granted, Horizon aims to receive all the necessary permissions by the end of 2018.
The main construction stage will start if and when Horizon is granted permission to build the power station and is expected to last for around nine years in total.
Depending on when and if consent is given, Horizon could begin construction by 2020 and start commissioning and operating the two reactors from 2025-28.
Horizon expects the construction workforce at the power station site will peak at between 8,000 and 10,000.
The company expects to employ around 850 people at the power station during operation, with recruitment beginning early in the construction phase to ensure there is a highly skilled workforce in place in time.
The ONR confirmed that Horizon Nuclear Power has applied for a nuclear site licence.
Mike Finnerty, deputy chief nuclear inspector and director of ONR’s New Reactors Programme, said: “This is the first licence application for a new nuclear power station since 2011, and over the past three years we have been engaged with Horizon, providing them advice on the licensing process and the robust requirements expected of a nuclear site licensee.”