Heysham nuclear power station

Heysham Power Station is a nuclear power stationlocated in Heysham, Lancashire, England, operated byBritish Energy. The site is divided into two separately-managed stations, Heysham 1 and Heysham 2, both of the advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) type, with two reactors each.

Contents [hide] 1 Heysham 1 2 Heysham 2 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

[edit]Heysham 1

Heysham 1 (left), with Heysham 2 behind

Construction of Heysham 1 began in 1970, with the first reactor commencing operations in 1983 and the second reactor following in 1984. However, initial production levels were low, and full commercial operation was only declared in 1989. It is likely to remain in operation until 2014. Its generating capacity is 1150 MWe. The reactors were supplied by National Nuclear Corporation and the turbines byGEC.^[1]

Heysham 1 shares its reactor design with Hartlepool power station, which introduced the replaceable pod boiler design. The CEGB specified a compact design for the Heysham 1 and Hartlepool power station reactor islands in comparison to the design of the two preceding stations at Hinkley Point B and Hunterston Bin order to reduce the capital cost, but this caused expensive construction delays because of restricted access. The lesson was learned and the Heysham 2 reactor island occupies a much larger footprint than Heysham 1 for a similar design output of power.

[edit]Heysham 2

Heysham 2, from Sunderland Point

Construction of Heysham 2 began in 1979, and the station opened in 1988. Its generating capacity is 1250 MWe, and it is estimated to keep running until at least 2023. Heysham 2 shares its reactor design with Torness nuclear power station and is a development of the reactor design used at Hinkley Point B. The reactors were supplied by National Nuclear Corporation and the turbines by NEI.^[1]

[edit]References