Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Nuclear Energy News .




CIVIL NUCLEAR
Hitachi enters Britain's nuclear sector
by Staff Writers
Tokyo (UPI) Oct 31, 2012


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Japan's Hitachi Ltd. will build up to six new nuclear reactors in the United Kingdom as part of its agreement to acquire Horizon Nuclear Power from German energy companies RWE and E.ON.

The $1.1 billion deal announced this week propels Hitachi into the "new and uncomfortable" role as the owner of an entire atomic-power enterprise instead of just a contract reactor builder, says a report in the Financial Times.

Domestically, in the wake of the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan aims to phase out nuclear power by 2040.

Masaharu Hanyu, head of Hitachi's nuclear division, hinted that the Japanese conglomerate had little choice but to win business abroad.

"We aren't doing it this way because we like it," he was quoted as saying by the Times. "We want a place to build nuclear reactors."

The deal comes amid uncertainty about the level of support nuclear developers can receive from the U.K. government, which has explicitly ruled out public subsidies for nuclear power.

Its forthcoming energy bill, slated to go before Parliament in November, is expected to guarantee returns for nuclear and renewable groups and reduce their investment risk.

That bill, said Energy Minister John Hayes, will "ensure energy security by providing investors like Hitachi with the certainty they need, and to get the best deal for the consumer," the BBC reports.

Other unknown factors regarding the deal, reports the BBC, include how much it would cost Hitachi to build the nuclear facilities in the United Kingdom, when the plants would be completed and who would operate them. Furthermore, the government-guaranteed "strike price," or minimum price for nuclear-generated power, hasn't been determined.

Hitachi said it will use its boiling water nuclear reactor technology, which is already licensed in other countries. But that system has yet to be granted U.K. safety approval, the BBC reports.

"Today starts our 100-year commitment to the U.K. and its vision to achieve a long-term, secure, low-carbon, and affordable energy supply," Hitachi President Hiroaki Nakanishi said in a statement.

"We look forward to sharing Hitachi's corporate vision and nuclear business policy with the management and employees of Horizon and working harmoniously with U.K. companies and stakeholders for the delivery of this vital part of Britain's national infrastructure and the creation of a strong U.K. nuclear power company."

Hitachi said it expects up to 5,000 direct jobs will be created at each site for the construction phase and another 1,000 permanent jobs per site when the reactors are operational.

.


Related Links
Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








CIVIL NUCLEAR
Bulgarian president sets nuclear referendum for next January
Sofia (AFP) Oct 31, 2012
Bulgarians will be asked in a January referendum whether they want their country to be home to a second nuclear power plant, the office of President Rosen Plevneliev said Wednesday. In a statement, his office said the national poll would take place on January 27, 2013. "The question: should Bulgaria develop nuclear energy through building a new nuclear power plant?" the statement said. ... read more


CIVIL NUCLEAR
New enzyme 'produces more fuel from less corn,' Danish company says

Scientists build 'nanobowls' to protect catalysts needed for better biofuel production

Boeing-COMAC Technology Center Announces First Biofuel Research Project

Serbia marks opening of new biogas plant

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Tokelau achieves renewable power

Next-generation antireflection coatings could improve solar photovoltaic cell efficiency

Scientists demonstrate high-efficiency quantum dot solar cells

ABC SOLAR To Develop FIT Power Generation Plants In Japan; Inks MOU With European Firms

CIVIL NUCLEAR
China backs suit against Obama over wind farm deal

DNV KEMA awarded framework agreement for German wind project developer SoWiTec

Sandia Labs benchmark helps wind industry measure success

Bigger wind turbines make greener electricity

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Virgin Group and Rosnano announce joint investment fund

Efforts to mitigate climate change must target energy efficiency

Poland hails carbon allowances compromise

Global headwinds trouble India's Suzlon

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Iraq, Kuwait battle over gulf megaports

BG Group says it sells Queensland gas interests to China's CNOOC

China completes shale bidding

Oil prices drop as hurricane blasts US East Coast

CIVIL NUCLEAR
New Study Brings a Doubted Exoplanet 'Back from the Dead'

New small satellite will study super-Earths for ESA

Most Planetary Systems are 'Flatter than Pancakes'

Glitch could end NASA planet search

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Philippines to get five French patrol boats

BAE says wins further submarine design contract

U.S. 'mulls buying Israeli robot gunboats'

UK Ministry of Defence awards Raytheon new Phalanx contract

CIVIL NUCLEAR
NASA Rover's First Soil Studies Help Fingerprint Martian Minerals

Curiosity on Mars sits on rocks similar to those found in marshes in Mexico

Continuing Work With Scoops at 'Rocknest'

Baumgartner: Mars travel a waste of money




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement