The two German utilities E.ON and RWE npower, partners in the joint venture Horizon Nuclear Power (HNP), have announced that they are not pursuing their project to build a nuclear power plant on the Wylfa site in North Wales, UK.
The decision taken by E.ON and RWE is motivated by the impact of the German government’s nuclear phase-out policy and by the economic and financial crisis. They are looking for buyers for the Horizon project and stress the project is a highly attractive one. This approach is supported by AREVA.
The AREVA group, together with its partners and network of UK suppliers, stands by the British government in total commitment to playing a part in the implemen-tation of the UK’s energy and environmental policy. The policy aims to secure the country's supply of electricity and combat climate change by developing nuclear and renewable energies in a complementary manner.
AREVA is already carrying out engineering studies and producing forgings for EDF Energy as part of the project to build the first two British EPR™ reactors, planned for the Hinkley Point site.
AREVA is also in preliminary discussions with NuGen, the British nuclear utility owned by GDF SUEZ and IBERDROLA, with a view to the construction of two additional EPR™ reactors.
AREVA's EPR™ technology has received provisional certification by the British safety authorities after four years of design studies, under the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process.
As global partner of the nuclear industry in the UK, it is also engaged in engineer-ing and service activities and technical assistance for the Sellafield site.
In the field of renewable energy, AREVA is in advanced discussions to participate in offshore wind farm development projects off the coast of Britain.