HC Deb 02 December 1986 vol 106 cc546-7W
Mr. McGuire

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report the top 10 power stations which produce the cheapest electricity on a cost per unit basis, giving in each case the type of fuel used, the date the station was commissioned, the original estimated cost, and the real cost when completed, the original estimated building time and the actual building time, the original planned life of the station and the current planned life of each station.

Mr. Goodlad

Following are the top 10 power stations in the Central Electricity Generating Board merit order, based on efficiency of plant and cost of fuel used:

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Cost (£ million) Building (months)
Date of synchronisation original now original now
Hinkley Point B February 1976 1966 117 142 52 98
Wylfa January 1971 1963 140 136 53 81
Oldbury November 1967 1961 74 72 47 64
Dungeness A September 1965 1959 77 68 44 58
Hartlepool* August 1983 1967 117 257 57 175
Hinkley Point B February 1965 1957 76 86 57 89
Dungeness B* April 1983 1965 111 267 49 204
Sizewcll A January 1966 1960 70 66 47 56
Heysham I* July 1983 1969 168 282 52 147
Trawsfynydd January 1965 1959 77 80 50 66

Notes:

Column 1: Date power first supplied to the grid.

Column 2: Scheme base date.

Column 3: Original cost estimate (including risk margin and initial fuel) in constant scheme base date prices.

Column 4: Cost to completion in constant scheme base date prices (including estimated future costs at stations marked * which are not yet fully commissioned).

Column 5: Estimated construction time from start on site to the date of first power supply to the grid.

Column 6: Actual construction time defined as in column 5.

All the stations are nuclear. The originally planned nominal life of all the stations was 25 years with the exception of Wylfa, 20 years. The currently assumed nominal life remains 25 years for AGR stations (those marked * and Hinkley Point B). All the others, including Wylfa, now have an assumed nominal life of 30 years.

Electricity in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

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