|
|
U.S.-Japanese Joint Nuclear Power Venture in Britain
18 February 2017
EIRNS—Hitachi Ltd. has partnered with Exelon Corp. to promote a nuclear power project in Britain, as it seeks to use the largest U.S. nuclear power plant operator’s expertise in running a reactor, Hitachi said. Exelon Generation operates 22 nuclear units in the U.S. Horizon Nuclear Power Ltd., Hitachi’s nuclear unit in Britain, is cooperating with Exelon Generation to operate two advanced boiling water reactors that are scheduled to begin commercial operation from the early 2020s. The tie-up with Exelon, was announced Feb. 16. Exelon will provide four specialists who will work with the Horizon team on engineering, maintenance, operations, and training of personnel. Hitachi acquired Horizon Nuclear Power in 2012 to expand its nuclear power business overseas. Japan Atomic Power Co., a builder and operator of nuclear plants, is also involved in the project to help in assessing construction costs and crafting plans toward the test operation of the reactors to be built in North Wales in Britain. The project is in line with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s goal of exporting nuclear power technology to other nations to help save Japan’s nuclear industry, which has had to deal with the aftermath in Japan of the Fukushima accident. In late December, Japan and Britain signed a memorandum of understanding to closely cooperate in the nuclear field. The memorandum covers four fields: reactor decommissioning and decontamination, research and development, security, and construction of new reactors. Japanese nuclear vendor, Toshiba, is also entering the British market, in a joint venture with France’s Engie, to build nuclear units in west Cumbria, at the Moorsite site. [RAP/MGF] |
