Problems at Hunterston B

[adam2]

Latest delays.
Reactor 3 that was due to re-start on Feb 28, is now not forecast to start until April 10, another 6 weeks delay.

Reactor 4 that was due to re-start on March 13, is now not forecast to start until April 24, also about 6 weeks late.

[clv101]

Feel sorry for the poor sod who's job it is manage this project... or I wonder how many project managers they've got through in the last year!?

Feel like they could have saved a lot of work/cost by just starting the decommission last year - what's the best case, a few more years at 2/3 power? Hardly seems worth it.

[BritDownUnder]

Feel sorry for the poor sod who's job it is manage this project... or I wonder how many project managers they've got through in the last year!?

Feel like they could have saved a lot of work/cost by just starting the decommission last year - what's the best case, a few more years at 2/3 power? Hardly seems worth it.

I can think of a few project managers who would like this. on their last job before retirement they can make a bit more 'beer money'. One I knew hung on so he would get a good redundancy package.

It does look like this reactor is toast. The UK could be in a bad way once all of the AGRs have closed unless some reliable and firm generation can be came up with.

[adam2]

Latest delays at Hunterston.

Reactor 3 that was due to re-start on April 10 is now forecast to re-start on June first.
Reactor 4 that was due to re-start on April 24 is now forecast to re-start on June 15.

[kenneal - lagger]

Is this what you call "rolling maintenance?"

[adam2]

Latest delays.
Reactor 3 that was due to restart on June 1st is now forecast to start on July 13.
Reactor 4 that was due to restart on June 15 is now forecast to restart on July 27.

About the usual 6 week delay.

Of little near term concern as demand is reduced by coronavirus, and indeed another reactor is shutdown at the request of the national grid due to low demand.

Potentially concerning in the longer term as the two reactors in question represent about 2% of peak demand.

[adam2]

Latest delays.
Reactor three that was due to restart on July 13 is now expected to start on august 20.

Reactor 4 that was due to restart on July 27 is now expected to start on September 17.

[BritDownUnder]

There seems to be a trend here.

[clv101]

This thing needs to be put out of its misery, UK power demand is likely to be depressed for at least a year.

[adam2]

latest delay is much smaller than previous delays.
The reactor that was due to start August 20, is now forecast to start August 30, a delay of only 10 days rather than the previous delays of several weeks.
The other reactor is still forecast to start September 17.

[adam2]

This thing needs to be put out of its misery, UK power demand is likely to be depressed for at least a year.

Now due to be "put out of its misery" final shutdown of both Hunterston reactors is planned for no latter than beginning of January 2022.
Edited to add, one reactor at Hunterston is now at full load, having presumably re-started a few days ago and then gradually increased load.
Final closure is still reported as being no later than very early in 2022.

[adam2]

The reactor that was due to restart September 17 is now expected to re-start September 29, a modest delay that suggests that might actually start soon.
The other reactor is running.

[adam2]

Both reactors at Hunterston B are now working, an unusual situation in recent years.

[adam2]

Both reactors at Hunterston B now shut down for ANOTHER graphite inspection outage.

[kenneal - lagger]

Both reactors at Hunterston B now shut down for ANOTHER graphite inspection outage.

I suppose it gives the staff something to do to justify their employment. And is a good example of the reliability of nuclear power at a point when some people might need reminding.