Westminster’s Nuclear All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has published a roadmap calling for 15 GW of new nuclear generation by 2035 and 30 GW by 2050.
In light of the current energy crisis and comments from the Prime Minister earlier this week about “big new bets on nuclear power,” the Nuclear APPG has drawn up a five-point plan that calls for involvement in both large-scale power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs). In addition to the 15GW and 30GW ambitions, the plan also includes reclassifying nuclear power as green to make it eligible under the Green Financing Framework, accelerating decisions and funding of Sizewell C and SMRs, freeing unused nuclear sites for potential developers and streamlining development and planning processes.
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“There is rightly a lot of focus on how we isolate ourselves from volatile imported energy, and it makes sense for the government to look to nuclear power to provide the sovereign, reliable power we need to reach net zero,” Ian said. Liddell-Grainger MP, President of the Nuclear APPG.
“The five steps the Nuclear APPG is taking today would enable the UK to deliver such nationally critical infrastructure as urgently as needed.”
As part of the roadmap, the APPG has also called for pre-development funding for: Wylfa B/Wylfa Newydd, a proposed 2.7 GW new building on the site of the decommissioned Magnox plant in Anglesey, Wales. Formerly led by Horizon Nuclear Power, a subsidiary of Hitachi, the project’s most recent candidate is a Bechtel/Westinghouse joint venture, which appears to support the APPG.
“The Wylfa site on Anglesey is the best place in the UK to house a new major nuclear power plant,” said Virginia Crosbie, MP for Ynys Môn.
“I fully agree that we need to be ambitious, and I fully support these five steps. A letter of intent on that ambition would be the green light for Wylfa, along with other projects. This will make a huge difference to the future of our country and should happen without delay.”
The five-point plan as set forth by the Nuclear APPG is:
- BE AMBITIOUS: Define a target in the government’s nuclear roadmap for deploying 15 GW by 2035 and at least 30 GW by 2050. This would demonstrate that the UK is serious and committed to deploying large, small and advanced reactors in the fleet
- GET THE FUNDING RIGHT: By Easter, classify nuclear energy as green in the UK sustainable investment taxonomy and ensure nuclear eligibility under the Green Financing Framework
- ACCELERATE PROJECT TIMELINES: Ensure Sizewell C gets final investment decision within 12 months, allocate pre-development funding to Bechtel/Westinghouse joint venture for Wylfa today, order 10 SMRs in this Parliament and bring other large and small scale projects forward
- GIVE DEVELOPERS ACCESS TO LAND: Mandate the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to lease unused nuclear sites to potential developers, and make clear that private owners of potential sites must make land available for nuclear development
- SUPPORT PROJECT DEVELOPMENT: Streamline the development consent ordering process and enable developers to run multiple scheduling, consent, and licensing requirements simultaneously, saving time without compromising standards. Provide all relevant regulatory authorities with a net zero obligation. Allocate additional funds to the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund and publish details on the bidding criteria and process
