NSAN is Ready to Support the Biggest Expansion of Nuclear Power for 70 Years

The government today outlines plans to reduce electricity bills, support thousands of jobs and improve UK energy security – including exploring building a major new power station and investing in advanced nuclear fuel production.

The Civil Nuclear Roadmap will give industry certainty of the future direction of the UK’s ambitious nuclear programme, on top of the government’s historic commitment to Sizewell C and world-leading competition to develop small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

The roadmap sets out how the UK will increase generation of this homegrown supply of clean, reliable, and abundant energy by up to 4 times to 24 gigawatts (GW) by 2050 – enough to provide a quarter of the UK’s electricity needs.

The plans include next steps for exploring a GW-scale power plant as big as Sizewell in Suffolk or Hinkley in Somerset, which are capable of powering 6 million homes each.

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

An additional £10 million will be provided 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 and support our allies.

The roadmap also includes a government ambition to secure 3 – 7GW worth of investment decisions every 5 years from 2030 to 2044 on new nuclear projects.

Tricia Austin, Managing Director commented:

“NSAN supports the government’s commitment to the expansion of nuclear power in the UK as outlined in the Civil Nuclear Roadmap. This comprehensive plan not only addresses the pressing need for energy security but also emphasises the potential for job creation and economic growth. The vision to quadruple the generation of clean and reliable energy by 2050, reaching 24 gigawatts, is a significant step towards achieving the nation’s electricity needs.

NSAN is committed to supporting the skills development needed, as highlighted by the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group and the Nuclear Skills Taskforce. This expansion in the workforce will be crucial for sustaining the growth of the nuclear industry. Doubling the civil and defence nuclear workforce over the next 20 years and supporting around 80,000 additional skilled jobs, will help to ensure a workforce equipped for the challenges of the future.”

To view the full press release from government, please click here.