Proposed New Nuclear Plant at Kirksanton, near Haverigg

Summary

Baywind Energy Cooperative owns one of the four wind turbines known as Haverigg II.  The construction of a nuclear power plant is proposed at nearby Kirksanton, which will require the demolition of the wind turbines at Haverigg.

Background

By 2025, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) plans to increase the National generation of electricity by 60GW.  It is intended that this extra capacity will help mitigate man made climate change by ensuring that 35GW will be generated by renewable sources (principally wind, but also hydro schemes both estuary barrages and river flows, and other sources).  The remaining 25GW will come from new nuclear plant.  These two production methods will also help maintain security of supply by reducing the need to import gas and oil.

The process that the construction of nuclear plants follows begins by writing a Nuclear National Policy Statement (NPS) followed by statements and assessments leading to an overall statement for the national energy infrastructure.  The Nuclear National Policy Statement has now reached a draft version, which was the subject of public consultation at Millom on January 23^rd 2010.  Following public discussion of possible nuclear reactor sites in April and May 2009, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced in November 2009 the location of ten sites across the United Kingdom where it proposes to build nuclear power stations.  In northwest England, plants are proposed at Heysham, Kirksanton (where Haverigg II is located), Sellafield and Braystones.

Consequences for Baywind

Baywind members own one turbine (Haverigg II), which must be demolished to allow development of the Kirksanton reactor.  There will be a loss of income for the Cooperative but some compensation for loss of production by the developer.  In addition, there is a significant long term loss of a site that has local support and works commercially with good wind speeds that could be developed for the next generation of wind turbines.  Finding and obtaining planning permission for such sites is one of the biggest challenges for renewable energy project developers.

Kirksanton is a green-field site and the Consultation Panel (who responded to the questions) said that such a site would be one of the last to be developed, into 2020+.  It would be the responsibility of the developer to come to a commercial settlement with wind farm operators for compensation following removal of the turbines to allow the site (which overlaps part of Haverigg II site) to be developed.

Baywind Response

The Baywind Board has decided to oppose the development at Kirksanton by, among other actions, soliciting the help of Baywind members to write to DECC and express their views.  It is true that for planning applications for more modest developments a large number of individually prepared responses carry significant weight with the decision makers.  The Baywind Board objected to the selection of Kirksanton in May 2009.

Triodos Renewables and Wind Cluster, the other turbine operators at Haverigg, are also urging stakeholders to express their dissatisfaction at the proposal.   

More information

Clicking on the links will lead to sites for further information

The DECC site contains the Nuclear National Policy Statement and greater detail of the government position.

https://www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk/home/intro/

A transcript of the Millom meeting gives short summary of the selection of Kirksanton and a verbatim account of the questions (and answers) posed by local people.

https://www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk/home/events/localevents/

The Kirksanton action group site www.savekirksanton.org.uk contains much background information, visual images and links to other sources of information.

Contacting DECC

The deadline for responses concerning the proposed nuclear plant is 22 February 2010.  If you wish to express your views to DECC, please use any of the contact details below.

Send your letters to DECC at

or by e-mail on the DECC site

https://www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk/home/responding/online/register/

5 February 2010