The South Korean state utility Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) has announced that it had been selected as preferred bidder for the NuGeneration (NuGen) Moorside nuclear power plant project in West Cumbria along England’s northwest coast (United Kingdom). Kepco now plans to negotiate with Toshiba over the next months to buy a share in the project.
The Moorside nuclear project should feature three Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors of 1,200 MW each, but Westinghouse - a Toshiba subsidiary - filed for bankruptcy in March 2017, threatening the entire project. Consequently, Engie withdrew from the project and sold its 40% stake in the project company NuGen to its partner Toshiba, which has been the sole owner of NuGen since April 2017.
Kepco's entering the project would rescue the £10bn (€11.4bn) project but changing the reactor design would delay the project commissioning - scheduled for 2025 - by at least two years. This delay would be a further blow to the British government's nuclear policy, as the EDF-led Hinkley Point C nuclear project may also be delayed by two years to 2027.
Searching for proven generation costs?
Then CAPEX & LCOE is the database you need. The module provides exclusive insights on both Capital Expenditure and Levelised Cost of Electricity.
Make informed decisions in terms of which technologies to invest in and where. In just a few clicks, access unique, premium data on both thermal and renewable power generation costs by technology and by country. Put our detailed, reliable information to use and benchmark your project.