Nuclear power: leaks show new EU push Draft documents show EU weighing radical change in rules on state aid in move that would make it easier to build new reactors in Britain
Saturday 20 July 2013
The European Commission is considering a radical change in rules on state aid to nuclear power in a move that would make it easier to build new reactors in Britain.
Draft documents show the proposals along with negative reactions from ministers in Berlin, who have abandoned nuclear in favour of renewables.
The proposals, drawn up by the EU's Competition Commission after pressure from the UK and France and leaked in a German newspaper, are regarded as a work in progress and could yet be opposed by the influential German energy commissioner, Günther Oettinger.
But Rebecca Harms, co-chair of the Green parties in the European parliament, alleged a pro-nuclear camp around Oettinger and competition commissioner Joaquín Almunia were "leading the charge" for a U-turn on energy policy.
"The planned subsidy rules will supposedly make the construction of new nuclear power stations worthwhile again. Ailing nuclear groups are to be set back on the rails thanks to high state subsidies."
The issue is most sensitive in Germany, where an autumn election is looming. Furthermore, the country has decided to phase out its old atomic power plants following the Fukushima accident in Japan. Berlin has instead set its face towards a major renewable power revolution.
But the rethink will delight the UK and France, who are both heavily committed to new nuclear. The Department of Energy and Climate Change in London is currently negotiating with energy firm EDF about financial incentives that would encourage the French company to spend up to £14bn constructing new reactors, firstly at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
It has already offered a £10bn financial "guarantee" and is negotiating a deal under which the power company would receive over 96p per megawatt hour over 35 years for the electrcity generated.
Environmentalists have always claimed Brussels would refuse to accept any public subsidies to EDF but the draft energy document indicates this could change.
