Hinkley Point B nuclear power station
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| Hinkley Point B nuclear power station | |
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  Hinkley Point B nuclear power station shown within Somerset |
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| Fuel: | Nuclear |
| Commissioned: | 1976 |
Hinkley Point B is a nuclear power station near Bridgwater, Somerset, on the Bristol Channel coast of south west England. Construction of Hinkley Point B started in 1967 and the station began generating electricity on February 5, 1976. It is an Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) and could previously generate 1250 MW. Due to the fact it is ageing, it will, if it returns to full service, only generate 570 MW per reactor instead of the rated 625 MW, in total producing 1140 MW. However on August 16 the company warned that until a decision was made over whether to extend its usable life, it would operate at a maximum of 70 per cent load. It was built by the Central Electricity Generating Board, and was taken over by Nuclear Electric as part of the privatisation of the UK Electricity Supply Industry in 1989, though remaining in public ownership at that time. In 1996, the AGR and PWR assets of Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear were privatised as part of British Energy.
In 2006 the station's reactors were closed for testing microscopic defects that were found in similar reactors. The media implied that defects were gaping holes gushing steam. Had this been the case, the plant would automatically shut down at the slight loss of pressure. Both reactors are now generating 420 MWh each, roughly 70% of full power. The number 4 reactor was cleared for restart by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate on 11 May 2007. [1] The power station is due for decommissioning in 2011, [2] although in May 2007, British Energy were given the go ahead to operate the station for another ten years. [3]
Hinkley Point B is one of four nuclear power stations in the area, the others being the adjacent Hinkley Point A together with Oldbury and Berkeley on the banks of the River Severn.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Nuclear plant gets nod to restart. BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-05-31.
- ^ Hinkley Point B. British Energy. Retrieved on 2007-05-31.
- ^ Safety approved at nuclear plants. BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-05-31.
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