Total output for the period was 30.7TWh (nuclear 27.8TWh, coal-fired 2.9TWh), down from 31.9TWh for the comparable period of 2006 (nuclear 29.0TWh, coal-fired 2.9TWh). This was due to previously reported boiler inspection outages and load restrictions at the firm’s Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B nuclear power stations.
British Energy also reported non-routine nuclear losses of 8.3TWh, compared to 6.3TWh losses in the same period of 2006. This was as a result of unplanned losses of 3.3TWh attributable to operations at Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B, losses of 1.6TWh attributable to other stations and 3.4TWh losses at Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B that were planned at the start of the year.
British Energy said that output in the remainder of the financial year will be significantly affected by the boiler closure unit issue at its Hartlepool and Heysham 1 plants, which stems from the original design and construction of the stations.
Bill Coley, CEO of British Energy, said that although the company was disappointed about the issues affecting its output: The first half of the year has shown many operating metrics across the entire fleet at ‘best ever’ recorded levels. That is a tribute to the operational focus of our employees and the investments made in improving the materiel condition of our plant.
