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A research partnership between the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and National Decommissioning Centre (NDC), formed in 2022, is already helping the energy sector to reduce costs and emissions, improve environmental outcomes and deliver sustainable net-zero decommissioning.

Date: Saturday, 03 February 2024
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/UK-decommissioning-research-partnership-begins-to

Britain's energy crisis and rising heating bills have fuelled support among voters for new nuclear reactors to be built in the UK, a survey has found. Meanwhile, a public opinion poll in Switzerland suggests that about half of the population favours the continued use of nuclear energy.

Date: Friday, 10 March 2023
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Polls-find-strong-support-for-nuclear-in-UK-and-Sw

Greg Hands says country’s opposition is ‘great pity’ Two units at Hunterston B were shut down in November 2021 and January 2022. Courtesy EDF Energy. The Scottish government has rejected UK energy minister Greg Hands’ plea to “rethink” its stance on new nuclear power stations in Scotland.

The minister said it is a “great pity” Scotland has opposed the construction of any nuclear plants amid the cost of living crisis in the UK and that he would be willing to sit down with first minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish energy secretary Michael Matheson to hear their concerns.

It has been a longstanding Scottish government and Scottish National Party policy to oppose nuclear, with the focus instead on the just transition to renewables. Until recently Scotland had four commercial nuclear reactors at two sites – Hunterston B and Torness.

The two Hunterston B units were shut down in November 2021 and January 2022, while the remaining two units at Torness are due to close in 2028, two years earlier than originally planned.

Date: Friday, 15 July 2022
Original article: nucnet.org/news/government-rejects-minister-s-plea-to-change-stance-on-nuclear-7-4-2022

The Magnox reprocessing plant at the Sellafield site in Cumbria has reprocessed the final box of used fuel from the UK's fast reactor programme being stored in the plant's ponds. Meanwhile, preparations are being made for the demolition of the iconic Pile One chimney that dominated the landscape over Sellafield for decades.

Date: Saturday, 25 June 2022
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Sellafield-processes-last-of-fast-reactor-fuel

Cash injection in project to build two EPRs designed to ‘maximise investor confidence’ Two EPR plants planned for Sizewell C would produce 3.2 GW of electricity powering the equivalent of around six million homes. Courtesy EDF. UK government ministers have added further support to EDF Energy’s £20bn Sizewell C nuclear power station project in Suffolk, southeast England, with a £100m investment to help develop the project while the company looks for private investors.

The government’s cash injection is designed to “maximise investor confidence” in the project while French state-owned power company and nuclear operator EDF works towards setting out a funding plan which satisfies investors and ministers.

In return the government will have rights to an equity stake in the development company behind the project and over the land on which EDF plans to build it. If EDF is able to secure enough investor backing to make a final investment decision on Sizewell it would reimburse the government with a stake in the project or in cash.

“The funding commitment from business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will be used to continue the development of the project which will aim to attract further financing from private investors and, subject to value for money and relevant approvals, the UK government,” the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said in a statement.

Date: Friday, 28 January 2022
Original article: nucnet.org/news/government-invests-gbp100m-in-edf-s-gbp20bn-sizewell-c-nuclear-power-station-1-4-2022

The Unit B2 (Reactor 4) of the Hunterston NPP in North Ayrshire, Scotland, was permanently shut down on 7 January after generating electricity for 46 years.

Date: Tuesday, 11 January 2022
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsfinal-shutdown-for-uks-hunterston-b-9388015

Nuclear fuel cycle companies are taking steps to reduce their operational carbon emissions through recent announcements. Orano is partnering with freight rail operator Fret SNCF to develop its carbon-free transport in France and Europe; UK company Nuclear Transport Solutions' rail division has launched a new locomotive design to trial the use of a low-emission renewable alternative to diesel; and in Russia, ARMZ Mining Machinery has increased the use of battery-operated machinery at its Priargunsky mining operations.

Date: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Decarbonising-nuclear-supply-chain-logistics

European industry body Foratom is hopeful that a new conversation around nuclear energy in light of the continent's gas crisis will bring the policy framework needed for it to make a major contribution to 2030 energy targets, a Moody's webinar heard.

Date: Thursday, 04 November 2021
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Evolution-in-EU-nuclear-debate

Five sites - one in Scotland and four in England - have been shortlisted to host the UK's prototype fusion energy plant - the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP). The site of the demonstration plant, due to begin operating by 2040, is expected to be announced at the end of next year.

Date: Friday, 15 October 2021
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Five-bids-shortlisted-to-host-STEP-fusion-plant