Why did EDF bring forward the planned closure of Hinkley Point B nuclear station?

Posted: 2nd February 2021

Why did EDF bring forward the planned closure of Hinkley Point B nuclear
station? For the ageing UK nuclear power plant, irradiation-caused cracks
to structural graphite blocks were an important factor driving the
decision. At issue is the interlocking graphite blocks that in the AGR
design form the reactor core. Opponents argue that years of irradiation
have caused so much damage to the blocks that the plants should be out of
operation. This is indeed one of the ageing issues that affects AGRs, but
the situation, and the decision on whether to close the plant, is more
complicated. On one hand the AGRs are all old enough to have paid off their
capital cost, making them more lucrative – and the GB Capacity Market
offers tolling payments throughout the winter months, so long as the power
plant is available in the event of a capacity alert with four hours’
notice. But on the other hand, ageing may affect the amount of power that
can be generated. For example, problems with weld cracking in the primary
circuit of several AGRs emerged in the 1990s and they resulted in the
regulator mandating that the plants could only operate at 70% of normal
power. Nor does operation guarantee profit, especially in a market like
that of Great Britain. Even with capital paid off, nuclear has high fixed
costs to cover and electricity prices in the GB market have become more
volatile. There are low prices – sometimes even negative pricing — on
windy and sunny days when renewable sources are at their maximum and the
market rewards plants that can respond. Weighing both certain and uncertain
revenues against fixed costs has clearly brought Hinkley Point B to the end
of the road.

NS Energy 1st Feb 2021 

Please click on the link below to read the full article:

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/hinkley-point-b-closure/