09 November 2009 16:41
Horizon Nuclear Power - response to nuclear National Policy Statement
The RWE npower/E.ON UK nuclear joint venture, to be known as Horizon Nuclear Power, today welcomed the publication of the Government's draft energy and nuclear National Policy Statements (NPSs).
The joint venture has already bought land at Oldbury-upon-Severn in Gloucestershire and at Wylfa on Anglesey. It aims to be a major player in the UK nuclear market and has announced plans to invest over £15bn in building 6GW of nuclear capacity. The developments could create over 11,000 jobs in construction and operation.
Alan Raymant, Chief Operating Officer, said: "It's absolutely vital that the importance of new nuclear power stations is recognised in bringing investment and jobs to the UK and, most importantly, the role that it has to play in the battle against climate change.
"The Government's NPS is an important step in the creation of a more streamlined planning regime and we're delighted that our plans for Wylfa and Oldbury have been recognised as excellent sites for development.
"Major infrastructure projects like new nuclear power stations need full and proper local consultation, but this needs to take place against the backdrop of agreement on the national strategic need and urgency. We're looking forward to playing an active role in the consultation process which we hope will lead to designated policy statements in the spring," he said.
Raymant also welcomed the publication of the draft Regulatory Justification decision.
"We are aiming to deliver around 6GW of nuclear by 2025, enough clean energy to power a city the size of Greater London. When finalised the NPS, and the Justification decision, will help create the predictable consent and regulatory framework we need as a springboard for our plans. New nuclear power has a key role to play in providing the UK with secure, low-carbon, affordable energy over the long term."
Ends
Notes to Editors:
Between them, RWE and E.ON have stakes in 20 nuclear power stations around the world and already jointly own three nuclear reactors in Germany.
RWE npower is already progressing investments in the UK including 3,600MW of new gas fired power stations at Pembroke and Staythorpe and carbon capture pilot plants at Didcot and Aberthaw. RWE npower renewables is progressing major offshore wind developments at Gwynt-y-mor and Greater Gabbard. Nuclear new build could bring the total RWE investment programme in the UK to over £15bn, demonstrating commitment to the delivery of long term, low carbon, secure energy supplies for the UK.
E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas. The company is currently building the 1,275MW gas-fired CHP power station at Grain in Kent, the 180MW Robin Rigg offshore wind farm in the Solway Firth and a gas storage facility at Holford in Cheshire. It also has permission to build a 1,200MW gas-fired power station at Drakelow in Derbyshire and has applied to build a 1,600MW cleaner coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent. The company is a joint venture partner in the London Array, the world's largest offshore wind farm. Its green development portfolio could, if built, power a million homes and displace the emission of two million tonnes of CO2 a year.