It certainly rolls off the tongue more easily than probabilistic safety. Cracks found at hunterston nuclear plant edf energy states there are no safety concerns after cracks found in two graphite bricks in one of the north ayrshire plants reactor cores. Hunterston b power station has generated electricity since 1976. Hunterston beauty, nuclear and coalfired power stations. Hunterston b is a nuclear power station on the west coast of scotland. Hunterston b nuclear power station, west kilbride, north ayrshire. Herald 21st sept 2017 read more glasgow evening times 21st sept 2017 read more. Footage reveals cracks in nuclear reactor daily mail online.
It is currently operated by edf energy and is due to run until 2023. This was to allow access into the new converter station. In 2012 there was a discovery of problems with planned pipework routes during installation of the new nitrogen system tieins to the reactor 3 pressure vessel at french state owned edf hunterston b nuclear power station in scotland. Nov 19, 2015 cracks have been found in bricks around the core of a nuclear reactor at hunterston b power station. Iaea nuclear energy series ageing management of concrete. I was project lead on nightshift at hinkley point b nuclear power station on the reheater penetration tube leak detection project. The plants operator, edf energy, said the cracking was predicted to occur as the station ages and said that the.
Sep 21, 2017 emergency services were called to a nuclear power station after an explosion nearby. The site is approximately 400m by 200m, and consists of pad foundations. The story of hunterston a nuclear power station, scotlands first civil power plant and worlds largest when built. They doubt whether the reactor will ever restart, and argue that proliferating cracks in other elderly reactors across the country will shorten their expected. The onr has given permission for reactor 4 at the hunterston b power station to return to service following an assessment of cracks in its.
As part of the privatisation of the scottish electricity generators, hunterston a was transferred, with the adjacent hunterston b, to the new state owned company scottish nuclear. Hunterston nuclear power station ayrshire tree surgeons. Edf energy has said the restart of one of the reactors at hunterston b nuclear power station in scotland where cracks were found is being. Hunterston b has two advances gascooled reactor, called reactor 3 and reactor 4. The 1,288mw station uses two parallel 610mwe nominal advanced gascooled reactors agrs, although these no longer run at full power. Hunterston a, scotlands first nuclear power station, was built from 195764 for the south of scotland electricity board by the general electric company ltd in association with simon carves ltd, the motherwell bridge and engineering company ltd, and mowlem scotland ltd.
Control room, hunterston a nuclear power station, north. Jul 22, 2016 hunterston b nuclear power station, west kilbride, north ayrshire. Edf energy says cracks in offline hunterston b reactor growing faster than. Hunterston power station plans threaten key mud flat habitat development would affect a legally protected site in western scotland that provides a. Video reveals cracks in scottish nuclear reactor the. Mar 08, 2019 shocking footage reveals some of the 370 cracks in a scottish nuclear power plant reactor that edf energy wants to bring back to life. Decision to restart scots nuclear reactor has put people at. It is about 6 miles 9 km south of largs and about 2. Explore the hunter power station business page in castle dale, ut. Hunterston b power station restart monica mwanje in the media last week it was widely reported that reactor 4 at hunterston b power station has been given permission to restart by the office for nuclear regulation onr, following a long shutdown period. It is currently operated by frances edf energy, and began producing electricity in 1976 hunterston bs two reactors have been shut down since 2018 because of safety concerns.
Fire crews race to hunterston power station after reports. Emergency services raced to hunterston power station after reports of an explosion at the ayrshire electricitygenerating facility. No one has been hurt in the incident and there was no danger to the public. Hinkley point b, opened in 1976 was, along with hunterston b, the first. Cracks found in the graphite bricks of a nuclear reactor at a power station in scotland. The life of hinkley point b hunterston bs sister station has been similarly extended.
On september 22nd 1964 queen elizabeth, the queen mother visited hunterston a to officially open the station. The purpose of this intervention was to undertake licence condition lc compliance inspections at hunterston b hnb power station in line with the planned inspection programme contained in the hnb integrated intervention strategy iis. News from the celtic league cracks have been found in graphite bricks which line the reactor core at the hunterston b nuclear power station picture in ayrshire. The type of cracking identified is termed keyway root cracking and it has been considered by the licensee in. Hunterston b nuclear power station west kilbride, north. It was built between 1974 and 1979 primarily to supply the needs of the british steel corporations scottish works, and was directly linked by rail to the large integrated ravenscraig steelworks in motherwell some 40 miles inland. Hunterston nuclear generating station, a power station. We started working on the project in august 20, the project was worth approximately.
Construction of the power station, which was undertaken by a consortium of gec and simon carves, began in 1957 and the facility was opened by queen elizabeth, the queen mother on 22 september 1964. Hunterston b nuclear power station simple english wikipedia. Britains nuclear power stations are they cracking up. May 03, 2018 more cracks have been found in reactor three at hunterston b nuclear power station. The story of the hunterston ore terminal, one of the finest deep sea ports in the world.
Operator edf said it has no safety implications and will not affect the operation of the reactor. As a result the unit at hunterston b in north ayrshire has. Hunterston b nuclear reactor to restart after safety assessment. Hunterston b power station is a nuclear power station in north ayrshire, scotland. The type of cracking identified is termed keyway root cracking and it has been considered by the licensee in its safety case.
Were nuclear power station piping problems fixed at. Footage of cracks in north ayrshire nuclear reactor released. Restart delayed of scottish nuclear reactor where cracks were found. Hunterston b power station is a nuclear power station in north ayrshire, scotland, close to hunterston a nuclear power station. Cracks found in british nuclear power stations daily. Decision to restart scots nuclear reactor has put people. No artistic impression of hunterston coalfueled power station available to us, but if you have flash player, you can get an idea of what its like. The story of hunterston a nuclear power station, scotlands first civil power plant and worlds largest when built on september 22nd 1964 queen elizabeth, the queen mother visited hunterston a to officially open the station. The incident happened next to the hunterston b plant in north ayrshire on thursday at around 3.
The incident happened next to the hunterston b plant in north. Hunterston converter station, ayrshire murform ltd. From construction to closure in march 1990, the power station was owned and operated by south of scotland electricity board. The prolonged closure of an ageing and cracked reactor at hunterston in north ayrshire is the beginning of the end for seven nuclear power stations in scotland and england, experts say. Apl wish to apply for planning permission under section 36 of the electricity act 1989 to construct and operate a multifuel power station, the hunterston multifuel power station hereafter referred to as the proposed development, on a. It was built between 1974 and 1979 primarily to supply the needs of the british steel corporations scottish works, and was directly linked by rail to the large integrated ravenscraig steelworks in motherwell some 40.
Cracks at the centre of the brick are of no concern, but cracking at the periphery can start to affect the geometry of the core, and thus, careful modelling and inspection of the core is required to. This page was last edited on 15 january 2020, at 14. Owner edf energy would like to restart generation at the power plant with a new limit of 700 cracks, a view which has been supported by gmb. Hunterston coalfired power station to be or not to be.
Cracks found at hunterston nuclear plant telegraph. The cracks were found in march in reactor 3 at hunterston b. Oct, 2014 the licensee at hunterston b, edf energy nuclear generation ltd, notified onr of the cracking of two graphite bricks in the core of hunterston b reactor 4 on 21 august 2014. On january this year, reactor 3 was taken offline for its planned interim outage for 22 days.
In may 2014 we completed a large scale tree removal contract within the secure compound at hunterston nuclear power station. Hunterston b power station to operate until 2023 bbc news. The uk has seven advanced gas reactor nuclear power stations. Feb 09, 2016 in 2012 there was a discovery of problems with planned pipework routes during installation of the new nitrogen system tieins to the reactor 3 pressure vessel at french state owned edf hunterston b nuclear power station in scotland. Apl wish to apply for planning permission under section 36 of the electricity act 1989 to construct and operate a multifuel power station, the hunterston multifuel power station hereafter referred to as the proposed development, on a site between the existing operational clydeport coal handling. Shocking footage reveals some of the 370 cracks in a scottish nuclear power plant reactor that edf energy wants to bring back to life. The reactor was shut down in march last year after investigators discovered more cracks than expected in its graphite core.
The reactors were supplied by gec and the turbines by c. We will be contacting owners to ask for permission for photographs and links. Ageing management of concrete structures in nuclear power plants. Hunterston b is near west kilbride in ayrshire, scotland.
Hunterston a had two magnox reactors capable of generating 180 mwe each. The food standards agency welcomes the requested discharge limits for reauthorisation. The level of cracking which is considered reasonable is far below anything which would affect the reactors safe operation. Hunterston a nuclear power station, a magnox reactor named after the magnesium alloy used to cover the fuel rods, was commissioned in 1955, designed 19557 and built 195764. The construction of hunterston b was undertaken by the nuclear power group. Coal power plan for nuclear site bbc news 20 november 2008 photographs here are ed and reproduced fair use. Hunterston nuclear power station chiefs insist its safe. May 08, 2018 the prolonged closure of an ageing and cracked reactor at hunterston in north ayrshire is the beginning of the end for seven nuclear power stations in scotland and england, experts say. The lifetime of hunterston b nuclear power station in scotland has been extended by another five years, to the end of 2016. On 20 august 2019 onr gave permission for reactor four at hunterston b nuclear power station to restart, but only until december. New images show cracking in the bricks which make up the core of nuclear reactors at hunterston b power station.
Fire crews race to hunterston power station after reports of. Sep 22, 2017 edf energy were quick to point out that the incident was not related to the companys hunterston b power station at west kilbride on thursday. Instead, it occurred in an external converter station, operated by rival energy company, scottish power. Hunterston a nuclear power station was adjacent to hunterston.
Hunterston nuclear power station chiefs insist its safe to. May 06, 2017 hunterston b is on course to operate safely until 2023, station direction colin weir has told stakeholders at a public meeting on nuclear issues. The original facility, now referred to as huntington a, includes reactor 1 and 2, both of which are being. Content is available under creative commons attributionnoncommercialsharealike. Comments off on exhibit 1b concrete and rebar bent to make way for cooling system structural integrity of containment building compromised against standard safety practices.
More cracks have been found in reactor three at hunterston b nuclear power station. Hunterston b reactor will only be restarted if safe energy live. Hunterston b nuclear power station, west kilbride, ayrshire. In 2004, british energy warned that its hinkley point b, hunterston b, heysham 2 and torness plants might not be able to extend their 30year lives because of cracked bricks. Explosion next to hunterston power station as emergency.
I was the project lead for edf at hunterston b nuclear power station on the pip project, overseeing the rbi risk based inspection on inaccessible pipework carried out by. Sep 21, 2017 hunterston b power station has generated electricity since 1976. Oct 06, 2014 cracks found at hunterston nuclear plant edf energy states there are no safety concerns after cracks found in two graphite bricks in one of the north ayrshire plants reactor cores. It currently generates up to mw and is due to operate until 2023. Edf which operate the plant say the fault was detected during routine maintenance. Aug 03, 2010 hunterston power station plans threaten key mud flat habitat development would affect a legally protected site in western scotland that provides a rare refuge for wading birds, otters and insects. Fire crews rushed to the site near the nuclear plant on thursday afternoon. Nov 29, 20 hunterston b nuclear power station in ayrshire has been given an extension after edf energy evaluated the plant. Outage accomodation for hunterston b room to rent from. If owners contact us, these can be removed immediately. It is located about 6 miles 9 km south of largs and about 2.
Prospective dose assessment of magnox, hunterston a. Hunterston coal terminal at fairlie, ayrshire, scotland. Prospective dose assessment of magnox, hunterston a power. May 29, 2018 hunterston b has two advances gascooled reactor, called reactor 3 and reactor 4. Hunterston power station plans threaten key mud flat. Reactor 4 at hunterston b power station in north ayrshire was one of two remaining reactors at the plant taken out of service last year. Safety fears as hunterstons cracked nuclear reactors start to crumble. It is capable of supplying electricity to approximately 1. Cracks found in bricks around core of hunterston b power. Hunterston cracks are death knell for other nuclear reactors. But what does this actually mean for the ayrshire plant.
The licensee at hunterston b, edf energy nuclear generation ltd, notified onr of the cracking of two graphite bricks in the core of hunterston b reactor 4 on 21 august 2014. Cracked reactor at hunterston b safe to operate again, says nuclear. Hunterston b power station is a nuclear power station in north ayrshire. The port focuses primarily on coal imports and, with 10% of the market, is now the uks largest in volume terms. Hunterston power station plans threaten key mud flat habitat. The plants operator, edf energy, has said the decision. Any cottam hinkley point b graphite hinkley point c hunterston b graphite. All that could be found is the following statement. This deepwater terminal has supported clydeports growth in recent years.
Hunterston b is on course to operate safely until 2023, station direction colin weir has told stakeholders at a public meeting on nuclear issues. Hunterston coastal area and terrestrial foods from the. Hunterston b nuclear power station in ayrshire has been given an extension after edf energy evaluated the plant. Emergency services were called to a nuclear power station after an explosion nearby. Hunterston b to remain off line due to keyway root cracks. This was a planned inspection of edf energy nuclear generation ltd. Cracks have been found in bricks around the core of a nuclear reactor at hunterston b power station.
The life of hunterston b nuclear power station has been extended to 2016. The hunterston b nuclear power station on the ayrshire coast will continue operating until at least 2023, seven years longer than planned. Prospective dose assessment of magnox, hunterston a power station february 2012. An often ignored aspect of nuclear power stations is that, just like in coal. Hunterston ore terminal when built was one of the finest deep water orecoal terminals in the world.
Dec 12, 2010 hunterston coal terminal at fairlie, ayrshire, scotland. The office for nuclear regulation onr has granted permission to edf, the operators of hunterston b nuclear power station, to operate reactor four for four months. The plants operator, edf energy, said the cracking was predicted to occur as the station ages and said that. It is currently operated by frances edf energy, and began producing electricity in 1976. It closed in 1990, and is being decommissioned, a process which may take up to 5 years. Agrs are encased in a concrete pressure vessel dti. Kevin keane, bbc scotlands environment, energy and. Cracks found in british nuclear power stations daily mail. Discharges at the requested limits would not unduly affect the safety of locally produced foods.