Hinkley Point C: EDF confirm £700m will be spent on fish protection systems
Fish would have to swim within two metres of the intake before being at potential risk
EDF says some regulatory processes around nuclear power projects in Britain could be improved to help deliver vital new infrastructure.
The firm says rules on assessing local environmental impact often create big costs and delays, with little extra benefit for nature or nearby communities.
At Hinkley Point C in Somerset, EDF have today confirmed (24/11) that they will be spending around seven hundred million pounds on three separate systems to protect fish, including an acoustic deterrent and a recovery system.
The most expensive measures were designed to meet a worst-case estimate of harm - less than the annual catch of a single small fishing boat.
They say that the Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD) will be installed to meet a worst-case assessment of harm agreed by the regulators of 44 tonnes of fish a year, which is less than the annual catch of one small fishing vessel.
Fish would have to swim within two metres of the intake before being at potential risk.
The channel is 20km wide.
EDF says it’s taken over six years to change requirements, and that new technology means they can now use a safer deterrent.
The firm has responded to a report by the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, saying: “Nuclear power provides big environmental benefits for Britain and its reputation for safe operation and construction depends on effective regulation.
"There is an opportunity to improve some regulatory processes to better enable the delivery of essential national infrastructure. For example, a disproportionate approach to assessing local environmental impact can add significant costs for projects which face complex and lengthy processes with little additional benefit to nature or local communities.”