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| What is Sizewell C and what does it mean for Suffolk? | What is Sizewell C and what does it mean for Suffolk? |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The planned Sizewell C nuclear plant is expected to cost about £20bn | The planned Sizewell C nuclear plant is expected to cost about £20bn |
| Plans for the Sizewell C nuclear power station have taken a step closer to the final go-ahead after the government announced significant funding. But what exactly is Sizewell C and what are the arguments for and against it? | Plans for the Sizewell C nuclear power station have taken a step closer to the final go-ahead after the government announced significant funding. But what exactly is Sizewell C and what are the arguments for and against it? |
| What is Sizewell C and where will it be built? | What is Sizewell C and where will it be built? |
| The site for Sizewell C is near existing nuclear buildings on the Suffolk coast | The site for Sizewell C is near existing nuclear buildings on the Suffolk coast |
| French energy company EDF wants to build a new two-reactor nuclear power station on the east Suffolk coastline that could generate 3.2 gigawatts of electricity. | French energy company EDF wants to build a new two-reactor nuclear power station on the east Suffolk coastline that could generate 3.2 gigawatts of electricity. |
| It claims Sizewell C could power the equivalent of about six million homes and will generate electricity for 60 years. | It claims Sizewell C could power the equivalent of about six million homes and will generate electricity for 60 years. |
| The power station will sit right next to Sizewell B that has been operating since 1995, just off Sizewell beach, close to the town of Leiston. | The power station will sit right next to Sizewell B that has been operating since 1995, just off Sizewell beach, close to the town of Leiston. |
| The decommissioned Sizewell A site, which first opened in 1967, can also be found here. | The decommissioned Sizewell A site, which first opened in 1967, can also be found here. |
| What is nuclear and is it safe? | What is nuclear and is it safe? |
| To generate nuclear power in non-military reactors, uranium atoms are bombarded by much smaller neutron particles. | To generate nuclear power in non-military reactors, uranium atoms are bombarded by much smaller neutron particles. |
| This causes the atoms to break down in a process called nuclear fission, which releases huge amounts of energy as heat. | This causes the atoms to break down in a process called nuclear fission, which releases huge amounts of energy as heat. |
| The heat is used to boil water, producing steam, which drives turbines and generates electricity. | The heat is used to boil water, producing steam, which drives turbines and generates electricity. |
| According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the plants are among the "safest and most secure facilities in the world" and are subject to strict international safety standards. | According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the plants are among the "safest and most secure facilities in the world" and are subject to strict international safety standards. |
| When was Sizewell C first proposed? | When was Sizewell C first proposed? |
| In 2008, the then Labour prime minister, Gordon Brown, said the UK needed to increase its nuclear power capacity. | In 2008, the then Labour prime minister, Gordon Brown, said the UK needed to increase its nuclear power capacity. |
| Two years later during the coalition government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, Sizewell was identified as a site suitable for a new power station. | Two years later during the coalition government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, Sizewell was identified as a site suitable for a new power station. |
| In November 2012, EDF launched its first public consultation to get the feedback of local people ahead of any formal planning application. | In November 2012, EDF launched its first public consultation to get the feedback of local people ahead of any formal planning application. |
| Three other public consultations were held, with the final one finishing in September 2019. | Three other public consultations were held, with the final one finishing in September 2019. |
| Sizewell C said more than 10,000 East Suffolk residents had been involved in the consultations. | Sizewell C said more than 10,000 East Suffolk residents had been involved in the consultations. |
| Does Sizewell C have planning permission? | Does Sizewell C have planning permission? |
| Sizewell C will stand alongside the existing Sizewell A and B plants | Sizewell C will stand alongside the existing Sizewell A and B plants |
| In May 2020, EDF submitted an application for a development consent order to build the power station. | In May 2020, EDF submitted an application for a development consent order to build the power station. |
| This is a legal document that grants permission for large-scale and nationally significant projects in England and Wales. | This is a legal document that grants permission for large-scale and nationally significant projects in England and Wales. |
| This was granted by the government in July 2022 despite the Examining Authority recommending it was not approved over water supply and nature concerns. | This was granted by the government in July 2022 despite the Examining Authority recommending it was not approved over water supply and nature concerns. |
| The site has also had its nuclear licence granted too in May 2024. | The site has also had its nuclear licence granted too in May 2024. |
| While both these have been given, there were still questions over how it would be funded. | While both these have been given, there were still questions over how it would be funded. |
| How much will Sizewell C cost and how much money has already been given? | How much will Sizewell C cost and how much money has already been given? |
| The power station is expected to cost about £20bn. | The power station is expected to cost about £20bn. |
| EDF previously rejected claims the project would cost £40bn, but did accept its nuclear plant being built at Hinkley Point, in Somerset, would cost more than that figure. | EDF previously rejected claims the project would cost £40bn, but did accept its nuclear plant being built at Hinkley Point, in Somerset, would cost more than that figure. |
| The government confirmed a total of £3.6bn worth of investment had been put into the project so far. | The government confirmed a total of £3.6bn worth of investment had been put into the project so far. |
| This included some funding from a subsidy scheme called Devex. | This included some funding from a subsidy scheme called Devex. |
| What does today's news mean? | What does today's news mean? |
| Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Sizewell C would "kickstart" economic growth | Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Sizewell C would "kickstart" economic growth |
| The government said it would now be investing £14.2bn to build Sizewell C - this figure included £2.7bn announced in November last year, a spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security confirmed. | The government said it would now be investing £14.2bn to build Sizewell C - this figure included £2.7bn announced in November last year, a spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security confirmed. |
| It means £17.8bn has been invested in the project in total. | It means £17.8bn has been invested in the project in total. |
| However the government said a final decision on the funding model was due later this summer as the project was still in need of private investors. | However the government said a final decision on the funding model was due later this summer as the project was still in need of private investors. |
| Ministers and EDF previously said there had been plenty of potential investors coming forward and an agreement was close to being finalised. | Ministers and EDF previously said there had been plenty of potential investors coming forward and an agreement was close to being finalised. |
| What is the argument for Sizewell C? | What is the argument for Sizewell C? |
| No new nuclear power plant has opened in the UK since 1995 when Sizewell B began operating. | No new nuclear power plant has opened in the UK since 1995 when Sizewell B began operating. |
| According to the government, all existing nuclear stations with the exception of Sizewell B, are likely to be phased out by the early 2030s. | According to the government, all existing nuclear stations with the exception of Sizewell B, are likely to be phased out by the early 2030s. |
| The government has previously said it was on a "mission" to deliver clean power by 2030 and reach its net zero target. | The government has previously said it was on a "mission" to deliver clean power by 2030 and reach its net zero target. |
| Nuclear power stations do not produce greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide or methane while in operation and therefore it could be key to help with this goal. | Nuclear power stations do not produce greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide or methane while in operation and therefore it could be key to help with this goal. |
| The government also said this "clean, homegrown power" could play a part in building economic growth, improve its energy security and reduce the country's dependency on fossil fuels. | The government also said this "clean, homegrown power" could play a part in building economic growth, improve its energy security and reduce the country's dependency on fossil fuels. |
| Another key argument around the project is the jobs it could create for the surrounding areas. | Another key argument around the project is the jobs it could create for the surrounding areas. |
| While in construction, the project could employ up to 10,000 people and once in operation there will be 900 people employed at Sizewell C. | While in construction, the project could employ up to 10,000 people and once in operation there will be 900 people employed at Sizewell C. |
| What do campaigners say? | What do campaigners say? |
| Alison Downes from Stop Sizewell C has hit out at the cost of the project | Alison Downes from Stop Sizewell C has hit out at the cost of the project |
| There has been strong opposition against Sizewell C since it was announced. | There has been strong opposition against Sizewell C since it was announced. |
| Campaign groups Stop Sizewell C and Together Against Sizewell C both fear the plant could have negative effects across a range of different areas. | Campaign groups Stop Sizewell C and Together Against Sizewell C both fear the plant could have negative effects across a range of different areas. |
| Both have significant worries over the environmental impact and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has similarly protested in the past over this fear. | Both have significant worries over the environmental impact and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has similarly protested in the past over this fear. |
| Sizewell C has argued it has worked to protect the wildlife around the site by rehoming displaced animals in new nature reserves it has created. | Sizewell C has argued it has worked to protect the wildlife around the site by rehoming displaced animals in new nature reserves it has created. |
| The campaign groups also argue the project is "too slow" to combat climate change and is too expensive. | The campaign groups also argue the project is "too slow" to combat climate change and is too expensive. |
| Alison Downes, director of Stop Sizewell C, said the government would come to "regret" its most recent investment announcement and felt the money could be spent elsewhere. | Alison Downes, director of Stop Sizewell C, said the government would come to "regret" its most recent investment announcement and felt the money could be spent elsewhere. |
| When could Sizewell C be operational? | When could Sizewell C be operational? |
| If the final investment decision on the funding model this summer goes ahead without issue, Sizewell C could be operational by the 2030s. | If the final investment decision on the funding model this summer goes ahead without issue, Sizewell C could be operational by the 2030s. |
| Sizewell C also recently announced plans to open a post-16 college in Leiston which it hoped would help train up its future workforce. | Sizewell C also recently announced plans to open a post-16 college in Leiston which it hoped would help train up its future workforce. |
| Sizewell C: The story so far | |
| Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |