NuGen takes step toward new U.K. power plant

NuGeneration, Ltd. (NuGen) announced that a payment has been made to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) in order to move forward in an agreement that will eventually bring a new power plant to the U.K.

This plant would be located at the Moorside site in West Cumbria, along the northwest coast of England. This decision was influenced by positive feasibility study results to bring three Westinghouse nuclear reactors to the site.

The next phase of development will be the completion of regulatory and commercial studies and acquiring the necessary permits to operate.

The company, alongside ENGIE a partial owner of the company, predicts that that all three AP1000 reactors would have a combined maximum output capacity of 3,400 megawatts of electricity and could potentially provide the U.K. with approximately seven percent of anticipated electricity needs and be able to serve approximately six million people.

Final investment decisions are expected to be made in 2018 and if regulatory, commercial activity and construction go according to plans and expectations the first nuclear reactor at the proposed Moorside Power Station would become operational in 2024.