The UK government’s recent move to secure land for new nuclear power plant development is a significant step towards achieving its ambitious goal of producing up to 25% of the country’s energy from nuclear power by 2050. The government recently unveiled the Civil Nuclear Roadmap, outlining plans to bolster energy security and cut down carbon emissions through an expansion of nuclear power.
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UK Secures Sites for New Nuclear Power Plants to Boost Energy Security
Reviving Historic Nuclear Sites
GBN will purchase the sites at Wylfa and Oldbury-on-Severn, both home to now-retired nuclear power plants, from Hitachi. The sites have a proud nuclear history, and their redevelopment is expected to bring local investment and highly-skilled jobs, as well as cleaner and cheaper power for households across the country.
GBN’s Chief Executive, Gwen Parry-Jones, acknowledged Hitachi’s work in developing the sites, making them attractive for acquisition. The organization plans to engage with local communities and provide updates on the project’s progress through public meetings and a dedicated project website.
Accelerating the Nuclear Revolution
In addition to securing the new sites, GBN has launched the next phase of its technology selection process, inviting tenders from several companies, including EDF Energy, GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International LLC, Holtec Britain Limited, NuScale Power, Rolls-Royce SMR, and Westinghouse Electric Company UK Limited. The companies have until June 2024 to submit their tenders, after which GBN will assess and negotiate contracts before announcing the successful bidders later in the year.
The UK government’s commitment to nuclear power is further evident in its allocation of £630 million (approximately $800 million) towards building a plant-scale fusion reactor, dubbed STEP, to replace the decommissioned Joint European Torus (JET) nuclear fusion facility in Oxfordshire.
