NuGeneration aims to make a decision on reactor technology for its Moorside nuclear project near Sellafield, UK "much earlier than anticipated," according to NuGen executive director Robert Zadora.

The company had been previously been due to decide between the Westinghouse AP1000 and AREVA EPR technology around 2016/17. It now hopes to make the decision within the next six months, according to Zadora.

A revised schedule reflecting 'increased momentum' is now under preparation and could see commercial operation by 2024/2025, Zadora said during a presentation at the Marketforce New Nuclear Build Forum in London on 19 November 2013.

Zadora also noted that National Grid's public consultation on its North West Coast Connection (NWCC) has been paused 'until 2014' due to NuGen's momentum on technology choice. There are three principle routes being considered from the NWCC project, which would connect the Moorside plant as well as number of wind farms in the Irish Sea to the existing transmission network. The stage 2 consultation had been due to begin in September 2013.

NuGen, which is jointly owned by Iberdrola and GDF Suez, secured an option to purchase land at Sellafield for a total of £70m in 2009. However, the option must be taken up by 2015.

The company plans to build a 3600 MW nuclear power station on the Moorside site adjacent to Sellafield, either two EPR reactors or three Westinghouse AP1000s. The site is suitable for either technology, NuGen said.