Hinkley Point is a headland on the Bristol Channel coast of Somerset, England, 5 miles (8 kilometres) north of Bridgwater and 5 mi (8 km) west of Burnham-on-Sea, close to the mouth of the River Parrett.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/HinkleyPointCoast.jpg/220px-HinkleyPointCoast.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Hinkley_Point_Power_Station_-_from_the_Quantock_Hills_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1603511.jpg/220px-Hinkley_Point_Power_Station_-_from_the_Quantock_Hills_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1603511.jpg)
Excavations in 2014 and 2015, carried out by Cotswold Archaeology and funded by Électricité de France (EDF) in preparation for the construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, discovered a farming settlement at the site dating from the Iron Age and then a post Roman cemetery.[1][2]
Hinkley Point adjoins Bridgwater Bay, a Site of Special Scientific Interest[3] and nature reserve,[4] and is a popular location for birdwatching and fossil hunting. A visitor centre in Bridgwater gives access to information, as well as running tours of the plant. There is also a nature trail which features plants, birds and butterflies.[5]
The exposed location of Hinkley Point meant that it was considered ideal for wind generation. However, a proposal to build 12 wind turbines close to the site of the nuclear power stations was turned down in October 2005.[6] The reason given by West Somerset District Council for the rejection was safety fears over what would happen were a turbine blade to detach and hit "something or somebody".[6]
Nuclear power stations
editThe landscape of Hinkley Point is dominated by three nuclear power stations:
- Hinkley Point A, with two Magnox reactors (1965–2000)
- Hinkley Point B, with two Advanced gas-cooled reactors in one building (1976–2022)
- Hinkley Point C, with two European Pressurised Reactors (under construction since 2017)
In 2008, the Brown Government announced its support for a third nuclear power station at Hinkley Point. EDF Energy plan to build a power station consisting of two European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) units, called Hinkley Point C, subject to electricity pricing agreement with the government.[7][8] HMG said in 2008 that the new Hinkley Point and Sizewell C power stations would contribute 13% of UK electricity in the early 2020s.[7] While the initial constructor EDF was in critical financial trouble, contracts were signed to bring the China General Nuclear Power Group on board in September 2016.[9][10][11] Hinkley Point C is projected to use three million tonnes of concrete and 230,000 tonnes of steel reinforcements.[12] One of its claims to fame is that the project was as of 2020 "the most expensive nuclear power station in the world".[11]
References
edit- ^ "Archaeology at Hinkley Point". South West Heritage Trust. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Hinkley Point C excavations unearth bones from the Dark Ages". BBC. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Bridgwater Bay SSSI". Natural England. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
- ^ "Bridgwater Bay Natural Area". Natural England. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
- ^ "Hinkley Point Nature Trail to reopen". British Energy. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
- ^ a b "Wind turbine farm plans rejected". BBC News. 26 October 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
- ^ a b "New dawn for UK nuclear power". WNN. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
- ^ Declan Lynch (18 April 2013). "EdF still undecided about Hinkley Point C go-ahead". New Civil Engineer. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ Moylan, John. "Hinkley Point contract is signed". BBC. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Mason, Rowena (29 September 2016). "Hinkley Point: ministers sign go-ahead for nuclear power plant". Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ a b Farage, Nigel (28 January 2020). "Of course Huawei is getting an easy ride. The British establishment has been bought up by China". Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Connolly, Jay (30 October 2018). "Major Project - Hinkley Point C". NRL Ltd. Retrieved 30 October 2018.