New wind and nuclear power plants

Decc and the Scottish government have given planning permissing for new low-carbon energy plants

Decc has given the green light to plans for two new nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset. The plant will be the first nuclear power station to be built in the UK since 1995.

NNB Generation, a subsidiary of French-owned energy company EDF, will operate the plant, which will be one of the largest in the UK generating up to 3.2GW of electricity.

The energy department has also endorsed the recommendation of the Planning Inspectorate to grant permission for the proposed Brechfa Forest West wind farm in Carmarthenshire, Wales.

RWE npower Renewables will operate the facility, which will consist of 28 turbines and have a capacity to generate up to 84MW.

It is the first onshore wind farm to be consented under the Planning Act 2008.

Meanwhile, the Scottish government has granted permission to develop the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre in Aberdeen Bay.

It will consist of 11 wind turbines and their connecting cables, and generate up to 100MW of electricity.