THE team behind a proposed new nuclear power plant in Essex says it would become the county’s biggest contribution to climate action.

The Bradwell B nuclear power station is a joint project by CGN and EDF to replace the former Bradwell A plant in Bradwell-on-Sea which was decommissioned in 2002.

Bradwell B’s project team have highlighted how the proposed station could become Essex’s biggest climate positive act - with COP26 underway.

The recent Net Zero Strategy from the Government endorsed both large and small nuclear projects as critical to decarbonising electricity generation by 2035.

Bosses say Bradwell B is “ideally placed” to play a “major part” in achieving this objective.

The proposed plant would produce 2.2GW of electricity, which according to the team is enough to power four million homes for at least 60 years.

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Alan Raymant, Bradwell B’s chief executive, said: “Bradwell B builds on a history of nuclear in Essex and provides the county with an opportunity to make a huge impact on the UK’s journey to net zero.

“Our power station will deliver significant volumes of clean, reliable energy.

“On top of this the project will also create many thousands of new skilled jobs and bring millions of pounds of investment into the local and regional economies.”

The team further says the growth in electric vehicles and the need to move away from using natural gas for heating in the UK means electricity demand will double by 2050.

At the same time, it adds, coal-fired power stations and the existing nuclear power stations are retiring which means the nation needs new low carbon generating capacity.

Mr Raymant said: “Net zero needs all low-carbon electricity generation options to be on the table.

“Nuclear generation is uniquely placed to work alongside other low carbon electricity sources, as the wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t always shine.

“Nuclear energy is critical to the decarbonisation of energy generation and at Bradwell B we continue to work diligently to proceed with the project to help support this ambition.”

However, campaigners against Bradwell B disagree.

Professor Andy Blowers, chair,an of Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group, said: “Far from making a contribution, Bradwell could have a negative impact on net zero by soaking up resources that would be better deployed elsewhere rather than on an outmoded and unnecessary technology inflicting costs and risks on future generations.”

Bradwell B is in the early stages of development and concluded its first round of public consultation on its proposals in 2020.