黑洞社区

The government has today outlined that it is exploring plans to build a new nuclear power plant that is as big as Hinkley Point C, in what it has referred to as the 鈥渂iggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years鈥�.

The proposed 鈥済igawatt-scale鈥� power plant would be the same size as those at Sizewell C in Suffolk and Hinkley Point C in Somerset, which are capable of powering six million homes each.

The nuclear expansion plans are part of the government鈥檚 commitment to increasing nuclear power generation to 24GW by 2050, which it said was 鈥渆nough to provide a quarter of the UK鈥檚 electricity needs鈥�.

The government has also announced that it will invest up to 拢300m in UK production of the fuel required to power high-tech new nuclear reactors, known as HALEU, currently only commercially produced in Russia.

>> See also: Government and EDF after private investment into Sizewell C nuclear scheme

>> See also: Great British Nuclear launches competition to develop UK鈥檚 first mini-reactors

This will make the UK the first country in Europe to launch a HALEU programme, which will be led from its North West production hub.

The roadmap, which aims to give 鈥渋ndustry certainty on the future direction of the UK鈥檚 ambitious nuclear programme鈥� has also committed an additional 拢10m to develop the skills and sites needed to produce other advanced nuclear fuels in the UK, helping to secure long-term domestic nuclear fuel supply.

It also includes a government ambition to secure three to seven gigawatts-worth of investment decisions every five years from 2030 to 2044 on new nuclear projects.

Great British Nuclear, the government nuclear energy and fuels company launched last year, will lead on the development of the UK鈥檚 small modular reactor industry.

Rishi Sunak, said: 鈥淣uclear is the perfect antidote to the energy challenges facing Britain - it鈥檚 green, cheaper in the long term and will ensure the UK鈥檚 energy security for the long-term.

鈥淭his is the right long-term decision and is the next step in our commitment to nuclear power, which puts us on course to achieve net zero by 2050 in a measured and sustainable way.

鈥淭his will ensure our future energy security and create the jobs and skills we need to level up the country and grow our economy.鈥�

Alan Sinclair, director, UK head of natural resources at Turner & Townsend, said: 鈥淭he Civil Nuclear Roadmap is a welcome reassertion of Government鈥檚 commitment to Great British Nuclear announced last summer and to increasing the UK鈥檚 nuclear power generation four-fold by 2050. Delivering this growth in capacity will clearly be an immense task and will take private investment as well as the public funding already laid out. A consistent direction of travel is fundamental to providing investors with the confidence to back programmes across the sector.

鈥淎 clear, stable pipeline of work will also be crucial to building the specialist skills and supply chain needed for the scale and complexity of nuclear power projects. As we head towards a general election, we need Government to maintain this steady course 鈥� regardless of the outcome at the ballot boxes.鈥�