Hinkley Point facts for kids
Hinkley Point is a piece of land that sticks out into the Bristol Channel in Somerset, England. It's about 5 miles (8 km) north of Bridgwater. This area is known for its big power stations and beautiful nature.
In 2014 and 2015, archaeologists made exciting discoveries here. They found an old farming village from the Iron Age. They also found a cemetery from after the Roman times. These finds were made while preparing for the new Hinkley Point C power station.
Hinkley Point is next to the Bridgwater Bay nature reserve. This area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It's a great place for birdwatching and finding fossils. You can visit a centre in nearby Bridgwater to learn more. They even offer tours of the power plant. There's also a nature trail to see plants, birds, and butterflies.
People once thought Hinkley Point would be good for wind turbines. But a plan for 12 wind turbines was stopped in 2005. The local council worried about safety. They were concerned what would happen if a turbine blade broke off.
Hinkley Point's Power Stations
The landscape at Hinkley Point has two large nuclear power stations. A third one is currently being built.
- Hinkley Point A: This station had two Magnox reactors. It is now closed down.
- Hinkley Point B: This station has two advanced gas-cooled reactors. They are in one large building.
- Hinkley Point C: This is a new station being built. It will have two European Pressurized Reactors.
Building Hinkley Point C
In 2008, the UK government supported building a third nuclear power station here. A company called Electricité de France (EDF) planned to build it. This new station, called Hinkley Point C, will have two powerful reactors.
The government said in 2008 that Hinkley Point C would help power the UK. It would provide about 13% of the country's electricity by the early 2020s. EDF later partnered with the China General Nuclear Power Group in 2016. This helped the project move forward.
Hinkley Point C is a massive construction project. It is expected to use three million tonnes of concrete. It will also use 230,000 tonnes of steel. In 2020, it was known as the most expensive nuclear power station in the world.
