Since coming to power, the new Labour government has relied heavily on harnessing a broad pool of expertise to address the UK’s complex issues. From James Timpson's insights on prison reform to Patrick Vallance’s leadership as Science Minister, this approach might signify a commitment to solving pressing challenges with informed solutions. The recent appointment of Chris Stark as the new "clean energy Tsar" is one such example. As the widely respected former head of the UK’s Climate Change Committee, Stark is now tasked with leading the UK’s "mission control centre" for clean energy, aiming to deliver both cleaner and more affordable power by 2030. His mandate underscores the commitment to transitioning to clean power while balancing economic and environmental priorities.
In light of this new appointment, a crucial question must be addressed: Can we truly call energy "clean" if it causes significant environmental harm? This question becomes particularly pertinent when examining the situation at Hinkley Point C, a new generation nuclear power plant under construction in Somerset.
For nearly eight years, EDF Energy has been working to remove a vital environmental protection at Hinkley Point C, the Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD). The AFD system is designed to protect aquatic life by deterring fish from entering the cooling systems of the power plant, and was included in the initial design plans of Hinkley Point C.
Dead fish
Despite its importance, the removal of the AFD has been a contentious issue. The Welsh Government Commission has warned that its absence could lead to the death of approximately 182 million fish annually, including sensitive species like shad, sprat, Atlantic salmon, and herring, which are crucial to local ecosystems, and Secretary of State Kwasi Kwarteng ruled in a Public Inquiry that the measure must be applied. Still, EDF continues to contest it, arguing that it would further delay the completion of Hinkley Point C and hold up the UK’s net zero plans.
Will the new government stand for this? A reality check is certainly needed, and standards need to be set for the future of this new generation nuclear power plants. Clean can’t just mean lower or no emissions, it also has to be good for the environment. Hinkley Point C cannot truly be clean unless it applies necessary requirements to protect the environment, that means installing the AFD.
The benefits of AFD systems are not merely theoretical. At the Doel Nuclear Power Station in Belgium, the installation of AFD technology has demonstrated tangible success. Since its installation in 1997, the AFD at Doel has been proven to reduce fish entrapment by up to 98% for herring and 97% for sprat, showcasing the AFD's efficacy in minimizing environmental damage while maintaining operational efficiency.
AFD success
The success at Doel shows that the AFD is not just an optional add-on but a proven solution that aligns with both environmental and operational standards. The lessons learned from this case are instructive for Hinkley Point C.
EDF’s proposed compensation measures - creating wetland habitat for birds and other species and enhancements to fish passage on a small number of existing weirs - are impractical and fail to address the immediate ecological impacts. What will be done with the pollutant of 182 million dead fish per year, for example? The AFD, having been tested and validated in various locations worldwide, is a reliable and scientifically backed solution which has been strongly recommended by key stakeholders.
As the UK pushes forward with ambitious clean energy goals, it is imperative that projects such as this adhere to the highest environmental standards. In the case of Hinkley Point C, the decision to remove the AFD undermines the project's environmental integrity. It serves as a reminder that the path to clean energy is not solely about reducing carbon emissions but also about safeguarding the ecosystems that are integral to our planet’s health.
As Chris Stark and his team work towards a cleaner energy future for the UK, the case of Hinkley Point C serves as a critical lesson. Clean energy cannot be considered genuinely clean if it inadvertently causes substantial harm to the environment. By prioritizing the installation of proven environmental protections like the AFD, we ensure that our transition to cleaner power does not come at the expense of ecological well-being.
We call on the new government to uphold the original decision made by Secretary of State and ensure that EDF complies with the mandatory installation of the AFD at Hinkley Point C. The commitment to clean energy must encompass both reduced emissions and robust environmental safeguards to truly be worthy of its name.
Lewis English is a representative of Fish Guidance Systems, a designer and installer of sound and light-based fish deterrents
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