:Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station

In 2008, the government decided that new nuclear sites should be constructed on existing sites to replace the UK's ageing fleet of reactors.{{cite news|title=New nuclear plants get go-ahead |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7179579.stm |work=BBC News |date=10 January 2008}} In 2010, the government revealed that Wylfa was one of the 8 sites that it intended to allow the development to occur at.{{cite news |title=Nuclear power: Eight sites identified for future plants |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11564152 |work=BBC News |date=18 October 2010}}

Horizon Nuclear Power was set up on 14 January 2009 by E.ON UK and RWE npower as a 50:50 joint venture, with the aim to develop at least 6 GW of nuclear capacity in the UK.{{cite web |title=RWE and E.ON form joint venture to build UK nuclear power stations |url=https://www.horizonnuclearpower.com/files/downloads/rwe-eon-joint-venture.pdf |website=Horizon Nuclear Power |accessdate=30 July 2020 |date=14 January 2009}} Following the establishment of the joint venture, the UK government set up an auction for three of the sites, Wylfa, Oldbury and Bradwell. The company announced that it had put forward plans to develop new nuclear generation facilities at all three of the sites.{{cite news |title=RWE and E.ON in joint bid for UK nuclear sites |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-rwe-eon/rwe-and-e-on-in-joint-bid-for-uk-nuclear-sites-idUKTRE52P1W220090326 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925234243/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-rwe-eon/rwe-and-e-on-in-joint-bid-for-uk-nuclear-sites-idUKTRE52P1W220090326 |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 September 2019 |publisher=Reuters |date=26 March 2009}} The UK government announced that Horizon won the auction at two of the sites, Wylfa and Oldbury, whilst EDF Energy had won the third site, Bradwell.{{cite news|title=German and French utilities win bids for UK nuclear sites |url=https://www.modernpowersystems.com/news/newsgerman-and-french-utilities-win-bids-for-uk-nuclear-sites |publisher=Media Power Systems |date=5 May 2009}}

Horizon and Areva announced on 2 August 2010 that they had signed an Early Work Agreement for site specific design studies on Areva's EPR reactor which it at the time was considering on building at the site.{{cite web |title=AREVA AND HORIZON NUCLEAR POWER SIGN EARLY WORK AGREEMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM |url=https://www.sa.areva.com/EN/news-8499/epr-areva-and-horizon-nuclear-power-sign-early-work-agreement-in-the-united-kingdom.html |website=Areva |accessdate=6 August 2020 |date=2 August 2010}} If the EPR design had been built at the site, it is likely that 2 reactors would have been constructed. Horizon also announced that they had commissioned Westinghouse for preparatory design studies of its AP1000 reactor, which was also a reactor being considered for construction at the site.{{cite web |first=Vern |last=Pitt |title=Five years before construction can begin on Horizon nuclear |url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/five-years-before-construction-can-begin-on-horizon-nuclear-/5045147.article |website=Building |accessdate=6 August 2020 |date=30 October 2012}}{{cite news |title=Laing O'Rourke team wins early deal on Horizon nuclear plant |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/buildings/contracts/laing-orourke-team-wins-early-deal-on-horizon-nuclear-plant-03-08-2010/ |accessdate=6 August 2020 |agency=Construction News |date=3 August 2010}}{{cite news |title=Horizon signs early work agreements with Areva and Westinghouse |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newshorizon-signs-early-work-agreements-with-areva-and-westinghouse |accessdate=6 August 2020 |agency=Nuclear Engineering |date=3 August 2010}}

Following separate strategic reviews, RWE and EON decided not to continue with the development of new nuclear power stations in the UK through their Horizon joint venture, citing the cost of Germany's nuclear phase-out as one of the reasons for their decision. The partners said they will seek buyers for Horizon to allow the projects to continue.{{cite web |title=RWE, EOn pull plug on UK nuclear plans |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-RWE_EOn_pull_plug_on_UK_nuclear_plans-2903124.html |website=World Nuclear News |accessdate=30 July 2020 |date=29 March 2012}} Following this, Westinghouse and Hitachi both placed bids for the firm, with Hitachi winning the bidding and buying Horizon for £700 million.{{cite news|title=Hitachi buys UK nuclear project from E.On and RWE |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20134735 |work=BBC News |date=30 October 2012}}{{cite web |title=Westinghouse and Hitachi bid for Horizon Nuclear Power |url=http://www.hazardexonthenet.net/article/53588/Westinghouse-and-Hitachi-bid-for-Horizon-Nuclear-Power.aspx |website=HazardEX |accessdate=6 August 2020 |date=5 October 2012}}

Hitachi announced its intention to construct two to three Advanced boiling water reactors at the site and submitted its design to the Office for Nuclear Regulation for a Generic Design Assessment (GDA), in order to get approval for the reactor to operate in the UK.{{cite news |title=ABWR set for UK design assessment |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsabwr-set-for-uk-design-assessment/ |publisher=Nuclear Engineering International |date=21 January 2013}} The ABWR design finished the UK Generic design assessment in December 2017.{{cite news|title=ABWR completes UK GDA process |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsabwr-completes-uk-gda-process-6004122/ |publisher=Nuclear Engineering International |date=15 December 2017}}

Hitachi intended to commence construction on the site from 2014, with major construction works to commence during 2018–2019;{{cite web |title=Pre-Application Consultation – Stage One |url=https://consultation.horizonnuclearpower.com/download/documents/74 |website=Horizon Nuclear Power Consultation |publisher=Horizon Nuclear Power |accessdate=30 July 2020 |page=5 |date=29 September 2014}} however, {{as of|2020|June|lc=y}}, due to many delays in the project, mainly due to funding disputes, construction has not commenced as the project has yet to find financial backing from the UK government.{{cite news |title=Wylfa nuclear project: Donald Trump plea over site sale dismissed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-53212790 |work=BBC News |date=28 June 2020}}

In September 2020, Hitachi announced its withdrawal from the project and from the sister site at Oldbury. It will close down its development activities, but will work with the UK government and other stakeholders to facilitate future options for the two sites.{{cite news |title=Hitachi withdraws from UK new-build project : Corporate – World Nuclear News |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Hitachi-withdraws-from-UK-new-build-project |work=www.world-nuclear-news.org}} The decision deadline for the Development Consent Order was subsequently postponed until 31 December 2020, to allow Horizon time to pursue discussions with unnamed parties interested in nuclear new build at Wylfa.{{cite news |title=Horizon secures more time for Wylfa planning decision : Corporate – World Nuclear News |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Horizon-secures-more-time-for-Wylfa-planning-decis |work=www.world-nuclear-news.org |date=1 October 2020}}

On 30 September 2020, following reports that the US nuclear giant Westinghouse was among the interested parties, Welsh Government Economy Minister Ken Skates confirmed that there was US interest in reviving plans for the site. Westinghouse had lost out in a bid for the site to Hitachi in 2012, and would likely use the AP1000 reactor which had already passed the GDA process when the firm was involved in the Moorside nuclear power station project.{{cite news |title=Glimmer of hope for nuclear projects in Wales |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsglimmer-of-hope-for-nuclear-projects-in-wales-8163837 |accessdate=6 October 2020 |publisher=Nuclear Engineering International |date=5 October 2020}}{{cite news |title=US nuclear giant Westinghouse 'believed' to be reviving its interest in Wylfa site |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/nuclear-giant-westinghouse-believed-reviving-19024571 |accessdate=6 October 2020 |publisher=DailyPost |date=30 September 2020}}

On 10 November 2020, it emerged that a US consortium led by engineering group Bechtel was engaged in discussions to resume the Wylfa project{{cite news |title=Anglesey has 'best site in UK for nuclear plant' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54894212 |accessdate=11 November 2020 |work=BBC News |date=10 November 2020}} and was pitching it as a 'levelling up' opportunity, something that the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had made one of his top priorities.{{cite news |title=The Guardian view on Boris Johnson's 'levelling up': there's no quick fix |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/11/the-guardian-view-on-boris-johnsons-levelling-up-theres-no-quick-fix |accessdate=11 November 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=11 February 2020}} If a deal is reached, activity would resume rapidly at the Wylfa site, as the consortium aims to provide electricity to the national grid on a similar timescale to that proposed by Horizon, at a market competitive price, despite a switch in reactor technology. The consortium, which also includes US utilities provider Southern Company and Westinghouse, received strong support from the Trump administration, which had repeatedly urged the UK not to pursue nuclear deals with China.{{cite news |first=Jonathon |last=Ford |title=US consortium revives plan for Welsh nuclear power plant |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a210b0ed-8b82-4376-ac7d-a9a0d365d2d1 |accessdate=11 November 2020 |publisher=Financial Times |date=10 November 2020}} A deal would need to be reached with Hitachi for the consortium to acquire the site, and the plans would also be contingent on the funding model to be introduced by the government for large nuclear projects in the UK.{{cite news |title=US firms said to be in talks for Wylfa Newydd project |url=https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US-firms-said-to-be-in-talks-for-Wylfa-Newydd%C2%A0proj |accessdate=11 November 2020 |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=10 November 2020}}

The deadline for the Development Consent Order decision was subsequently further deferred until 30 April 2021 to allow talks to continue.{{cite news |title=UK agrees to further deferral of Wylfa planning decision : Nuclear Policies – World Nuclear News |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/UK-agrees-to-further-deferral-of-Wylfa-planning-de |work=www.world-nuclear-news.org |date=4 January 2021}}

On 28 January 2021, Hitachi formally withdrew its Development Consent Order application. The UK Government indicated that it would "continue to explore future opportunities" for the site.{{cite news |title=Horizon withdraws planning application for Wylfa nuclear project – Nuclear Engineering International |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newshorizon-withdraws-planning-application-for-wylfa-nuclear-project-8484226 |work=Nuclear Engineering International |date=1 February 2021}}

On 6 March 2024, the UK Government announced it was buying both the Wylfa and Oldbury sites from Hitachi for £160 million.{{cite news |last1=Deans |first1=David |last2=Lewis |first2= Gareth |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-68490883 |title=Budget: UK government to buy Wylfa site in £160m deal |work=BBC News |date=6 March 2024 |access-date=6 March 2024}}

===Design===

Wylfa Newydd was expected to use two advanced boiling water reactors that have an output of around 1350 MW each to provide a combined output of 2700 MW. The ABWR design was submitted to the Office for Nuclear Regulation in the UK so that it could undergo the Generic design assessment in 2013, once Hitachi had signalled that it intended to continue the developing the site.{{cite news |title=ABWR set for UK design assessment |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsabwr-set-for-uk-design-assessment/ |publisher=Nuclear Engineering International |date=21 January 2013}} The ABWR design finished the UK Generic design assessment in December 2017.{{cite news|title=ABWR completes UK GDA process |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsabwr-completes-uk-gda-process-6004122/ |publisher=Nuclear Engineering International |date=15 December 2017}}

• Stage One: Site Preparation and Clearance – Clearing the site and preparing it for development.
• Stage Two: Main Construction – Constructing the Power Station, including the nuclear reactor buildings and the majority of supporting buildings, facilities, plant and structures, the MOLF, and the two breakwaters.
• Stage Three: Commissioning and Operation – Testing and operating the Power Station as well as the construction of radioactive waste storage facilities.
• Stage Four: Decommissioning – Converting the site into an end state to be agreed with the relevant authorities and regulators.

In January 2019, it was reported that the nuclear plant's funding was questionable, after £2 billion had been spent on the project.{{cite web |title=Horizon's £1.7bn pre-tax loss after Wylfa plan shelved |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48888093 |work=BBC News |date=5 January 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/10/uk-nuclear-plant-hitachi-wylfa-anglesey|title=UK's nuclear plans in doubt after report Welsh plant may be axed|first=Adam|last=Vaughan|date=10 December 2018|work=The Guardian}} The reports noted that a dispute between the proposed plant's builder Hitachi and the UK government over funding had thrown the future construction into doubt, and that an upcoming meeting later in the month would be the location of an announcement regarding the plant's future.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/01/11/hitachi-set-walk-away-wylfa-nuclear-power-plant/|title=Hitachi weighs pulling out of Welsh nuclear power plant|first=Chris|last=Johnston|date=11 January 2019|publisher=The Telegraph}}

On 17 January 2019, Hitachi announced that it would "suspend" work on the Wylfa project. Duncan Hawthorne, chief executive of Horizon Nuclear Power, said: "...we will take steps to reduce our presence but keep the option to resume development in future".{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/hitachi-to-suspend-work-on-20bn-nuclear-reactor-in-wales-11609379 |title=Hitachi to suspend work on £20bn nuclear reactor in Wales |publisher=Sky News |date=17 January 2019}} The UK government had been expected to grant a development consent order in a move to restart the project,{{cite news |last1=Dalton |first1=David |title=Wylfa Newydd / UK Delays Decision on Planning Permission |url=https://www.nucnet.org/news/uk-delays-decision-on-planning-permission-10-4-2019 |publisher=The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency |date=24 October 2019}} but subsequently deferred the decision deadline until 31 March 2020, which was then pushed further back to 30 September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Dalton |first1=David |title=Wylfa Newydd / Decision on UK Nuclear Plant Put Back Until September |url=https://www.nucnet.org/news/decision-on-uk-nuclear-plant-put-back-until-september-4-4-2020 |work=The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency |date=2 April 2020}} A spokesperson for Hitachi said that they were disappointed in the delay, but that it was "not unexpected given the current national circumstances".{{cite news |title=Wylfa Newydd planning decision delayed again |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newswylfa-newydd-planning-decision-delayed-again-7859280/ |publisher=Nuclear Engineering International |date=6 April 2020}}

On 6 August 2020, Horizon responded to the Financial Times who had produced an article on the role of China in British nuclear as well as the role of nuclear in net zero,{{cite news |title=China tensions raise doubts over UK nuclear projects |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9d0d3a75-d3f4-4cab-9176-be582140987c |accessdate=6 August 2020 |publisher=Financial Times |date=6 August 2020}} by saying that,

{{blockquote|text=We strongly agree on nuclear's key role in hitting Net Zero, as covered in today's Financial Times, and Wylfa Newydd can be a big part of that low carbon future. With the right funding model in place, we're ready to remobilise and restart our crucial project on the best new build site in the UK. Substantive progress has already been made at Wylfa Newydd which has the capacity to provide enough clean power to effectively meet all of Wales' electricity demand, a tried and tested reactor technology, world-leading international partners, a competitive price, and a supportive community. It will bring transformative economic benefits for Anglesey, Wales and the UK.{{cite web |title=Horizon Commits to Wylfa project |url=https://twitter.com/HorizonNuclear/status/1291401763833217024/photo/1 |website=Twitter |publisher=Horizon Nuclear Power |accessdate=6 August 2020 |date=6 August 2020}}}}

On 16 August 2020, the Financial Times reported that Horizon had been in detailed conversations with the UK government to convince ministers that the project could be restarted quickly and in a cost effective manner, providing the regulated asset base model of funding is approved. The chief executive of Horizon said that if the project were not to continue, Hitachi would withdraw from the project and try to sell the site, potentially raising fears that China General Nuclear Power Group would move into the site. The CEO also added that,

{{blockquote|text=What I've been trying to do over the last period is convince people that our suspension has not in any way undermined our ability to restart quickly. We are ready to go ... but the funding model needs to be in place. We've got a competitively priced project that will generate jobs quickly and really fuel the economy in the region the plant is in. If we can't make our transaction viable in this environment then it's never going to happen.{{cite news |title=Horizon waiting for chance to restart new-build projects |url=https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Horizon-waiting-for-chance-to-restart-new-build-pr |accessdate=24 August 2020 |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=16 August 2020}}}}

File:Protest-Llangefni-yn-erbyn-wylfa-b.jpg protest in Llangefni in 2017|alt=A group of more than 30 protestors in winter clothing carrying protest placards in opposition to the nuclear power station. Located in a village street of terraced houses]]

One opposition to Wylfa Newyyd is the local group, People Against Wylfa-B (PAWB), which is completely against the Wylfa development.

Some of the group's main arguments against the development are as follows:{{cite web |title=PAWB – Facts |url=https://www.stop-wylfa.org/facts/ |website=Stop Wylfa |publisher=People against Wylfa B |accessdate=1 August 2020}}

• The funding would be better spent on renewable energy
• The funding will be a waste of taxpayers' money, as German firms EON and RWE could not find funding for the project
• The cost of electricity would increase as a result of the construction as the build would be subsidised
• The health risks are too great as the site would be radioactive for years to come and the number of cancer rates would increase
• The economic benefits to the area are minimal

In June 2020, The Sunday Times reported that the US government had warned Hitachi not to sell Horizon to Chinese companies over security concerns, as China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) had been convicted of nuclear espionage in the US.{{cite news |title=Spy warning on Chinese nuclear company |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/spy-warning-on-chinese-nuclear-company-cgn-china-general-nuclear-trrh0hftv |work=The Week |date=25 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525104125/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/spy-warning-on-chinese-nuclear-company-cgn-china-general-nuclear-trrh0hftv |archive-date=25 May 2019 |url-status=live }} Horizon responded that there were no such plans, and stated "We don't comment on speculation. Our focus remains on securing the conditions necessary to restart this crucial project, which would bring transformative economic benefits to the region and play a huge role in helping deliver the UK's climate change commitments."{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/06/30/business/us-hitachi-uk-nuclear-china/ |title=U.S. warns Hitachi not to sell U.K. nuclear project to China |newspaper=The Japan Times |date=30 June 2020 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-53212790 |title=Wylfa nuclear project: Donald Trump plea over site sale dismissed |work=BBC News |date=28 June 2020 }}

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