Comment: Hinkley Point C

Commenting on the news of further delays and cost overruns to the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant, Dr Jonathan Marshall, Head of Analysis at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said:

“New delays and cost overruns highlight why there are concerns around transferring more construction risk of new nuclear power stations onto British bill payers. Under the proposed RAB scheme, energy bills will increase to pay for nuclear power stations before they start generating. Considering the apparent inability of the nuclear industry to deliver projects on time and on budget, this is a cause for concern.

“As the urgency to build new low carbon energy sources increases, it is vital that policy makers ensure that projects are deliverable. Transforming the UK into a net zero carbon nation will be more difficult without the ability to count on planned projects to deliver clean energy in the next decade and beyond."