Like true love, the course to building the UK’s first new nuclear power plant in decades, was never destined to run smoothly.
While it has caused some political tension and disquiet from investors, it seems prudent that the incoming Prime Minister would want to appraise herself fully of the fine detail regarding the construction of Hinkley Point C – its development will be, after all, the world’s largest nuclear project.
Martyn Ingram is Group Director of Morgan GRP, a Llandybie-based manufacturer of LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) rated security products for the nuclear industry – as a group of companies, more than 80 percent of the power distributed in mainland UK will have passed through one of their enclosures – says Wales is going to be a key beneficiary of the inevitable embracing of nuclear power in the UK.
“Whatever bumps in the road to construction need to be negotiated, our direction of travel in Britain is towards nuclear, and the UK Energy Secretary, Greg Clarke has said the Government expects to make a final decision on Hinkley Point C in early autumn.
“Nuclear will help us reach our important clean energy and low-carbon electricity targets, it will help reposition the UK as a major force in energy generation, and Hinkley Point C alone is expected to deliver 7 per cent of our electricity when other nuclear power stations will have closed down.
“Most importantly a project of this size will deliver a huge economic stimulus, and for Wales in particular, the story is a very positive one.
“Hinkley Point C will be the largest construction site in Europe, according to EDF Energy, who are leading the project. Sitting just 19 miles from Cardiff, across the Bristol Channel, and offering approximately 25,000 construction jobs, the building work alone is likely bring dividends to the Welsh economy.
“60 percent of the construction jobs are expected to go to UK companies. Approximately 5,600 people are expected to work onsite and the completed plant will employ 9,000.
“Morgan Marine has been working closely with the nuclear industry for decades, providing vital security enclosures and other products to house switchgear, used in the process to convert nuclear energy into electricity – we hope to be involved in the Hinkley Point C development too.
“And the picture is much broader than Hinkley alone. Plans for the siting of mini, modular nuclear power stations in the UK have long been on the cards, with Anglesey’s Wylfa Newydd site being looked at by Japanese firm, Hitachi.
“The recent report from Miller research found that 24,000 businesses in Wales could become part of the supply chain for this development alone.
‘Other sites are being assessed in Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, Bradwell, Hartlepool, Heysham, Oldbury, Sizewell and Sellafield.
“These designs would be constructed on factory premises, then assembled onsite and they would serve the communities in their immediate vicinity so there are tangible benefits to be had locally.
“There are many and various arguments regarding the relative merits of nuclear, solar and wind power, but it is accepted that nuclear delivers base load electricity – the amount of power needed to satisfy minimum demand – because it is always available, while solar and wind provide intermittent power.
“As we have seen in recent years from the heated debates over fracking, wind turbines and even solar farms, the siting of new energy projects always cause fears and some dispute and there is no doubt that planning departments are going to face some headaches in the near future – the stated timeline would see these mini nuclear builds completed by 2025.
“While concerns are valid and should be recognised, I feel very strongly that we should look at what is happening now in the broadest historical terms.
“Worldwide, our approach and our attitude to energy generation and consumption has shifted seismically.
“These changes are as important and as impactful upon society as the industrial revolution was back in the 1700s and 1800s and, as such, we can expect these changes to cause similar disquiet. But big changes are inevitable and they are necessary in order to move society forward.”