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| Nuclear reactors may stay offline until end of year, EDF says | Nuclear reactors may stay offline until end of year, EDF says |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Four UK nuclear reactors that were shut down for safety reasons may not be back online until the end of the year, EDF Energy has said. | Four UK nuclear reactors that were shut down for safety reasons may not be back online until the end of the year, EDF Energy has said. |
| The reactors at the Heysham 1 and Hartlepool power stations were shut in August following a routine inspection. | The reactors at the Heysham 1 and Hartlepool power stations were shut in August following a routine inspection. |
| EDF said there could be a "phased return to service between the end of October and the end of December, 2014". | EDF said there could be a "phased return to service between the end of October and the end of December, 2014". |
| Earlier this week National Grid announced it was seeking emergency supplies of electricity this winter. | Earlier this week National Grid announced it was seeking emergency supplies of electricity this winter. |
| It cited concern over potential shortages of power. | It cited concern over potential shortages of power. |
| BBC industry correspondent John Moylan said that today's announcement from EDF means "up to a quarter of the nuclear fleet being offline as the UK enters winter". | BBC industry correspondent John Moylan said that today's announcement from EDF means "up to a quarter of the nuclear fleet being offline as the UK enters winter". |
| All four reactors were closed after inspections found a crack in one of the boilers. The other three reactors were closed as a precautionary measure because they were of the same design. | All four reactors were closed after inspections found a crack in one of the boilers. The other three reactors were closed as a precautionary measure because they were of the same design. |
| Analysis: John Moylan, Employment and Industry Correspondent | |
| Britain's power crunch was expected to come in 2015-16. But a series of incidents now means our spare power capacity this winter may be much tighter than expected. | |
| The two EDF nuclear plants account for 2.3GW of electricity. The firm says they can provide up to 4% of Britain's power in periods of peak demand. | |
| But fires at the Ferrybridge and Ironbridge coal-fired plants in the early summer, and the announcement that a gas-fired plant at Barking, in East London, is to close means that a further 1.2GW of power is also in doubt. | |
| In June, the energy regulator Ofgem said it expected to have around 5% to 10% of spare generation this winter. | |
| But with problems linked to five power plants, that margin has now reduced. | |
| That uncertainty has led National Grid to take emergency measures, a year earlier than planned, to ensure extra power generation is available in the months ahead. | |
| But will that be enough if there are further plant outages in the coming months, or if a particularly cold winter sends power demand soaring? | |
| EDF said on Thursday that it had now had time to assess any work and draw up a timetable. | EDF said on Thursday that it had now had time to assess any work and draw up a timetable. |
| "Dates for returning the stations to service depend on the findings and completion of the inspections," the company said. | "Dates for returning the stations to service depend on the findings and completion of the inspections," the company said. |
| "Depending on the progress of the programme and any necessary modifications, the company expects there to be a phased return to service between the end of October and the end of December, 2014. | "Depending on the progress of the programme and any necessary modifications, the company expects there to be a phased return to service between the end of October and the end of December, 2014. |
| Any re-entry into service will have to be approved by the nuclear safety regulator, EDF said. | Any re-entry into service will have to be approved by the nuclear safety regulator, EDF said. |
| Power supplied by the reactors at Heysham 1 and Hartlepool accounted for about 25% of the UK's nuclear output, and about 4% of the total output of all power generated. | Power supplied by the reactors at Heysham 1 and Hartlepool accounted for about 25% of the UK's nuclear output, and about 4% of the total output of all power generated. |
| Alternative supplies | Alternative supplies |
| On Tuesday, National Grid, which runs the power distribution network, said it was seeking additional electricity supplies for winter. | On Tuesday, National Grid, which runs the power distribution network, said it was seeking additional electricity supplies for winter. |
| The company said it was accelerating an emergency plan asking providers how much more electricity they could provide to fill a possible shortfall. | The company said it was accelerating an emergency plan asking providers how much more electricity they could provide to fill a possible shortfall. |
| After Thursday's announcement from EDF, National Grid said: "We have already taken the sensible precaution to tender for Supplementary Balancing Reserve this winter, owing to uncertainty over plant availability. | After Thursday's announcement from EDF, National Grid said: "We have already taken the sensible precaution to tender for Supplementary Balancing Reserve this winter, owing to uncertainty over plant availability. |
| "The tender process - which does not specify volumes - is sufficiently flexible to cater for any new information from the market." | "The tender process - which does not specify volumes - is sufficiently flexible to cater for any new information from the market." |
| EDF, owned by the French government, has other nuclear power stations in the UK: Hunterston and Torness in Scotland, Heysham 2 in Lancashire, Dungeness B in Kent, Hinkley Point B in Somerset and Sizewell B in Suffolk. The news comes as Britain's government is placing nuclear power at the | EDF, owned by the French government, has other nuclear power stations in the UK: Hunterston and Torness in Scotland, Heysham 2 in Lancashire, Dungeness B in Kent, Hinkley Point B in Somerset and Sizewell B in Suffolk. The news comes as Britain's government is placing nuclear power at the |
| The UK has put a nuclear expansion programme at the heart of its low-carbon energy policy and drive for energy security. | The UK has put a nuclear expansion programme at the heart of its low-carbon energy policy and drive for energy security. |
| As part of this strategy, last year the government signed a £16bn deal with EDF to build two reactors at Hinkley Point C. | As part of this strategy, last year the government signed a £16bn deal with EDF to build two reactors at Hinkley Point C. |