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Generic Design Assessment
The nuclear consultation document "The Future of Nuclear Power" set out the facilitative actions that Government would be pursuing, should we conclude after the consultation that energy companies should be allowed to invest in new nuclear in the UK. Some of these actions will be taken forward on a contingent basis during the consultation period so that no time is wasted if we do conclude that nuclear power has a role to play. One of these actions is Generic Design Assessment. The consultation document invited applicants to come forward to nominate reactor designs for the first phase of the Generic Design Assessment process. Applicants needed to meet the following criteria to be considered eligible:
a) Applicants should state that their proposed design will be deployable in the UK, such that it could start generating electricity on a commercial scale (i.e no less than 50MW per unit) by 2016 – 2022;
b) Applicants should provide a letter of endorsement from a “credible nuclear power operator” (“CNPO” – defined below) which states that the CNPO considers that the design is a serious contender for deployment by that operator in the UK by 2016 – 2022.
A credible operator was defined as one which:
- Currently operates a nuclear power plant anywhere in the world; and
- Has made a commitment to become or continue to be an operator of an electricity generating station (with a capacity in excess of 50MW) by 2016 – 2022 in a market subject to UK health and safety and environmental regulation.
By the deadline of 22 June 2007, four applications had been received - one each from AECL, Areva, GE-Hitachi and Toshiba-Westinghouse. The Government has now reviewed these applications and their letters of endorsement against the criteria and has concluded that all of them meet the eligibility criteria. The applications and letters of endorsement along with the press notice issued by the Department on 05 July 2007 can be found below:
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