Latest news with #SizewellC
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Politicians seem reluctant to take necessary action over sea level rise
There seems to be an inability among politicians to take in what scientists are telling us about the consequences of the climate crisis. Perhaps the most glaring example relates to the Guardian's latest report on sea level rise, which said that whatever we do now, the rise will have devastating consequences for coastal communities, causing millions of people to migrate to higher ground. Greenland and the west Antarctic ice caps are doomed to melt. Even in countries that do take cutting carbon emissions seriously, such as the UK, governments do not seem to have accepted that the prediction about sea level rise means policies must adapt to damage that has already been done. The coastline of the North Sea is a classic example. Stretches of England's east coast both in and south of Yorkshire are eroding, and large areas are close to or at sea level already. A storm surge coinciding with a high tide, like the one that killed hundreds in 1953, may be a rarity, but each year a similar event becomes more likely to overwhelm the existing sea defences. And yet the government is still talking about building nuclear power stations with a 150-year lifespan on this coast, notably Sizewell C, and small modular reactors on other sites. Future generations may wonder why scientists' warnings were so easily ignored.
The Guardian
15 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
New nuclear would be too late and too costly
The new nuclear renaissance on which you report ((Tide is turning in Europe and beyond in favour of nuclear power, 1 June) may well turn out to be like the last frail one due to a set of inconvenient truths. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that renewables are now 10 times more efficient than new nuclear at CO2 mitigation; 92.5% of all new power capacity added worldwide in 2024 was from renewables, with new nuclear virtually nowhere; new nuclear builds are vastly over-cost and over-time; large reactors on offer are the same ones offered 25 years ago – no new designs have been developed this century; since all small modular reactors are in the design stage, industry forecasts must be treated with scepticism; and waste, proliferation and siting problems are all deeply unresolved. New nuclear has limited operational need and a poor business case. Even for the couple of hundred hours per year of dunkelflaute (low wind and low sun), it is possible to sustain a reliable power system by expanding renewable energy, rapid growth and modernisation of the electricity grid, faster interconnection, using electricity far more efficiently, smart energy management and deployment of today's cost-effective storage technology. And, by the way, it turns out that Sizewell C new nuclear station would be almost entirely cut off by climate-driven storm-surge floodwater at least once a year by the time it's built. According to UK government global data, it takes up to 17 years to build just one nuclear station. New nuclear would be much too late and far too costly for the climate and energy Paul DorfmanBennett scholar, Bennett Institute for Innovation and Policy Acceleration, University of Sussex; chair, Nuclear Consulting Group Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mark Zuckerberg saves nuclear plant from closure with 20-year power deal
Mark Zuckerberg's Meta has saved a nuclear plant from closure as the Facebook-owner races to secure more power to fuel its artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions. The technology giant has signed a deal with US nuclear operator Constellation Energy to buy energy from its Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois for 20 years. Starting in June 2027, Meta will buy 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of energy from Constellation's plant, roughly the whole capacity of a single reactor at the site. It brings an end to uncertainty over the future of the nuclear site. Without the deal, the plant had been at risk of shutting down permanently, with a taxpayer-backed subsidy scheme that had kept the plant operating due to expire in 2027. Constellation said the deal with Meta would preserve 1,100 local jobs while the plant would continue to provide energy for 800,000 homes. The tie-up is the first major nuclear deal for Mr Zuckerberg's social media empire, which has been hunting for clean energy capacity to power its growing fleet of AI data centres. Urvi Parekh, the head of global energy at Meta, said: 'Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions. We are proud to help keep the Clinton plant operating for years to come and demonstrate that this plant is an important piece to strengthening American leadership in energy.' Last year, Mr Zuckerberg said Meta was seeking up to 4GW of nuclear capacity, equivalent to four full-sized reactors and more than the entire planned output of Britain's Sizewell C nuclear project. Silicon Valley's technology giants have invested in clean power sources for years, buying up renewable energy capacity. Meta, for instance, said it reached net zero in its operations in 2020. However, demand for power-hungry new AI products such as ChatGPT, which require vast data centres to develop and maintain, has forced technology companies to seek additional energy sources. This soaring power demand has sent the emissions goals of some technology giants into reverse. Last year, Google said its carbon emissions had increased by nearly 50pc compared to its 2019 baseline. Microsoft's had increased by 29pc since 2020. Businesses including Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta have been hunting for nuclear power sources or investing in advanced new technologies, such as small modular reactors or nuclear fusion. They have also been reactivating ageing nuclear fleets to meet their immediate power demands. Last September, Microsoft said it would restart a nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in a deal reportedly worth $16bn (£12bn). Google, meanwhile, said last October that it would order seven mini-nuclear reactors from Kairos Power, an energy start-up. Amazon is investing $500m in the development of next-generation small reactors. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Sizewell C nuclear power plant ‘could get go-ahead within weeks'
UK ministers could give the go-ahead to the new Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk within weeks, according to reports. Keir Starmer is expected to give the final nod to begin construction of Britain's second new nuclear power project in a generation, alongside the French nuclear developer EDF, at a Franco-British summit next month. The final approval for Sizewell C, first reported by the Financial Times, would mark the end of a 15-year journey to secure investment for the plant since the site was first earmarked for new nuclear development in 2010. The government is understood to be in the final stages of securing billions of pounds of investment from the private sector to back the project, which follows the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant which is under construction in Somerset. Ministers are expected to use the government's spending review, scheduled for 11 June, to set out the UK's investment in the project, which will ultimately rely on a mix of funding from taxpayers and via energy bills. The final go-ahead from Starmer and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, will then follow during the Anglo-French summit due to take place in London on 8-10 July, according to the Financial Times. The UK government's stake in the project stood at 84% at the end of last year compared with EDF's 16% share of the project. The French state's cash-strapped utilities company is understood to be eager to reduce its stake in the project even further. Potential investors in the project according to the report include Schroders Greencoat, Equitix, the Canadian pension fund CDPQ, Amber Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Asset Management, the UK pension fund USS and the insurer Rothesay, backed by the Singaporean infrastructure fund GIC. EDF had originally planned to build the nuclear plant alongside China's state nuclear developer China General Nuclear Power Corp, which also holds a stake in the Hinkley Point C project, but its partner was forced to step back from the project by the UK government on security grounds. The project has secured £6.4bn of government funding to support its development to date, of which £2.5bn was granted by the Conservative government under Rishi Sunak and a further £3.9bn has come from the current Labour administration. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion The planned financial framework designed to support the project, which is rumoured to cost about £40bn, has angered anti-nuclear campaigners because it would grant EDF support via energy bills from the start of its construction. The framework differs from the model used to support the Hinkley Point C project, which will earn revenue for EDF only once the plant begins generating electricity. Under the new model billpayers could be on the hook for construction delays and cost overruns at Sizewell C, according to campaigners. Alison Downes, a campaigner for Stop Sizewell C, said: 'We'll all pay for the £40bn folly that is Sizewell C. By starting construction and ploughing £6.4bn of taxpayers' money so far into the project the government has undermined its negotiating position and essentially written private investors a blank cheque. Any that came on board at the 11th hour will have been bribed by generous terms at the expense of consumers, who will be forced to pay a nuclear tax on household energy bills for many years until a single lightbulb is lit.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meet the jobs matchmaker filling roles at Sizewell C
Stuart Allsopp has met hundreds of local job seekers over the last year. As Jobs Service lead at Sizewell C, he's one of the team responsible for making sure that opportunities at the project are matched up with people in the local area. 'There is a massive appetite for jobs in this region, and people are coming out to our Sizewell C jobs fair in big numbers,' said Stuart. 'My role is all about trying to deliver those jobs to people, to connect them with the best opportunities for them. It's what I love doing.' Sizewell C offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for jobs and careers in this region. Of the 1,500 apprenticeships the project is creating, 540 will go to local people. At least a third of the 7,900 jobs on offer during the peak of construction will go to people in this region. And once constructed, the power station will employ 900 people in highly skilled, well-paid jobs. 'We've got to make sure people are aware of the thousands of opportunities on offer,' said Stuart. 'And that means going out and putting the opportunities in front of them.' READ MORE: How Sizewell C is aiming to provide world-class wellbeing support Sizewell C has so far run jobs fairs in Leiston, Lowestoft and Ipswich, with a second jobs fair in each town to come later in the year. 'We signed jobs pledges with Jack Abbott MP in Ipswich and Jess Asato MP in Lowestoft, so these jobs fairs are one way we're delivering on those pledges. And we've already seen so many good news stories coming out of these events – of local people linking up with new jobs, either directly on the project or with one of the businesses in our supply chain. Engineering apprentices at Sizewell C (Image: Sizewell C) 'It's such a satisfying feeling when you can match up someone with a job – that's no small thing, that's about improving people's lives. And that is happening on an ever-increasing scale because of this project. It's amazing.' As well as jobs fairs and local advertising, the Sizewell C Jobs Service has been a successful way of making people aware of all the opportunities available. 'We want to make it easy for people and the Jobs Service does that. People can sign up on our website to get notifications of the latest opportunities – and we put all our vacancies on the website too, both roles directly with us and with our supply chain partners. There are well over a hundred opportunities live on the website at any one time.' READ MORE: How Sizewell C is bringing hydrogen buses to Suffolk Last week, Sizewell C announced that it was taking transformative steps to develop the skilled workforce it needs to build the power station: it's set to build a new post-16 college for Leiston, in partnership with Suffolk New College, as well as an apprenticeship and trainee hub to support hundreds of Sizewell C apprentices, and a Centre of Excellence focused on developing skills in civils, mechanical, electrical, welding and more. 'It's going to be phenomenal,' said Stuart. 'The difference it will make to young people in the Leiston area is difficult to overestimate – having those facilities on their doorstep will mean hundreds of young people can get the training, the skills, and the career pathways they want, without having to do an hour and half trip to a college out of town. The Jobs Service is a great way of keeping up to date with opportunities on the project (Image: Sizewell C) 'In the short term, that means an even bigger pool of local talent for me to match up with roles here at Sizewell C. In the longer term, it means we can develop the skills and retain those skills for Suffolk here well into the future – it's a legacy in the truest meaning of the word.' READ MORE: How Sizewell C is restoring Suffolk's Sandlings landscape The next jobs fair is in Ipswich in August, and Stuart is expecting hundreds more people to come along as jobs on the project continue to increase. 'We had over a thousand people on site at the start of the year and we expect double that by the end of the year. We've got over 60 apprentices already and we expect to double that by the end of the year too. 'There is the supply of jobs to meet the clear demand we're seeing across the region – and this will have a positive ripple effect across our local economies. It's a joy to be involved in.' For more information, visit This article is part of the EADT's Clean & Green campaign, which aims to promote our region as the biggest in the UK and Europe for all forms of renewable energy.
