New 'roadmap' sets out government's nuclear plans
The government's considering building another large power plant the size of Sizewell C or Hinkley Point C
Last updated 11th Jan 2024
The British government’s exploring plans for the largest nuclear power expansion in the UK in 70 years.
The new Civil Nuclear Roadmap includes a potential new power station, which would be equivalent in size to Sizewell C, on the Suffolk coast, and investing up to £300 million in production of a specific type of fuel – currently only commercially produced in Russia.
It also details how the UK could meet its existing target to generate up to 24GW of nuclear power by 2050.
This is four times the current capacity.
If successful, it would provide a quarter of the UK's electricity needs.
The announcement has been met with scepticism though, as previous nuclear plants have been hit by delays and spiralling costs.
Suffolk's Sizewell C, for example, is now expected to start running in 2034, ten years later than planned.
Some critics argue much of the money would be better spent on cheaper, renewable power, or on ways to reduce demand.
"The perfect antidote to the energy challenges facing Britain".
Announcing the plans , Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called nuclear power the "perfect antidote to the energy challenges facing Britain".
The government's roadmap goes one step further, saying, without nuclear power, which provides low-carbon electricity, there is "is no credible pathway to net zero".
Sunak continued, describing nuclear power as "green", saying it "will ensure our future energy security and create the jobs and skills we need to level up the country and grow our economy."
The roadmap also details the government's ambition to secure 3-7GW worth of investment decisions every five years from 2030 to 2044 on new nuclear projects.
The current state of nuclear power in the UK
There is currently one nuclear power plant under construction in the UK: the 3.2 GW Hinkley Point C, in Somerset.
This is now due to cost ££32.7 billion rather than the initially approved £18bn, and is expected to come on line years several years late.
Developer EDF blames this partly on inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic.
As mentioned above, there are also plans for Sizewell C, which is planned for the Suffolk coast.
It was originally slated to start running this year - now it's not expected until 2034.
Another plant?
The roadmap also states that the government is still looking into another large power plant the size of Sizewell C or Hinkley Point C, as well as new "small modular reactors" (SMRs) from the mid-2030s.
SMRs are smaller than conventional plants, and can be made in factories rather than on site, making them potentially faster and cheaper to deliver.
They aren't commercially available yet, though.
"Clarity"
The plan's been welcomed by those in the industry, who were pleased to see the roadmap offers "greater clarity and predictability".
Tom Greatrex is chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association: "We will need both large and small nuclear at scale and at pace for our energy security and net zero future."
Dr Simon Cran-McGreehin added: "Anything that helps get us off gas and greenhouse gas emissions is a good thing.
"But there are "definitely alternatives that are cheaper and easier to deploy...
"We know that renewables and energy efficiency are cheaper and more effective and can be done, instantly."
"Delusional"
The plans have not been wholly well received though.
Tom Burke, who chairs climate thinktank E3G has described the plans as "delusional", saying: "This is nuts.
"It's not going to help with meeting the current government's carbon neutral power system by 2035 target, because you'll hardly have started it in 2035."
He said renewables and battery storage are proven and cheaper and faster to deploy, as are ways to cut power demand, such as by insulating homes.
Greenpeace have also criticised the decision saying it shows the country’s over reliance on fossil fuels.