Oldbury nuclear plant will include low profile cooling towers

9 September 2010


Horizon Nuclear Power is hoping to reduce the visual impact of one of its planned nuclear power plants in the UK by employing hybrid cooling towers in the design.

The UK-based firm has announced that the hybrid technology - as opposed to natural draught towers - is currently its preferred option for the new plant planned at Oldbury on Severn, Gloucestershire. Hybrid towers would stand up to 70 m in height and would be more in keeping with the height of existing structures at the site, says Horizon.

“This has been a big decision for Horizon,” said Tim Proudler, planning and consents manager for the Oldbury project. “Natural draught cooling towers have real advantages. They're cleverly designed to move air without the use of electricity, and could be said to be the obvious technical choice, being cost effective, easy to maintain and sustainable.

“However, we appreciate that these would be a prominent feature in the local landscape. Some of the visual impact could be improved by careful arrangement, but after discussion with, and listening to, the local community, we wanted to respond. In the end, this has to be about achieving an acceptable balance.”

Horizon - a joint venture between E.On UK and RWE npower - is preparing to hold public consultation events on the Oldbury project in October. It is also planning to develop a nuclear power plant at Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales.

Natural draught towers rely on their shape and height to create cooling and can be up to 200 m in height. Their water vapour plume can also be more visible than that from hybrid cooling towers, which employ a combination of natural and forced draught technology.

Horizon announced in March that it intends submit a planning application for the new plant at Oldbury around 2014. Given the right market conditions, and subject to a final investment decision, preliminary works could begin in 2016, followed by main construction from 2019.

Applications for planning consent at Wylfa will be made in 2012 and Horizon Nuclear Power could have its first reactor generating electricity at the site from 2020.




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