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The United Kingdom and the United States are poised to formalize an agreement designed to accelerate the development and deployment of nuclear power technologies.
This collaborative effort seeks to stimulate job creation and bolster Britain’s long-term energy security.
The agreement is anticipated to be finalized during U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit this week, with both nations expressing optimism that it will unlock substantial private investment in the sector.
However, some of the designs underpinning these potential ventures are relatively nascent, suggesting that it could be several years before these nuclear projects are operational and contributing to the energy supply for homes and businesses.
The core objective of the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy is to expedite the construction timeline for new nuclear power stations in both the UK and the US.
A key ambition is to reduce the regulatory approval process for nuclear projects from up to four years to approximately two.
Practically, this would mean that if a reactor design has successfully undergone safety assessments in one country, the findings could be leveraged to streamline the approval process in the other.
The UK’s nuclear strategy already incorporates plans for small modular reactors (SMRs), which represent a scaled-down version of traditional, larger nuclear power plants. Rolls Royce, a British engineering firm, has been selected to spearhead the design and construction of the first SMR in the UK.
Among the commercial deals expected to be signed this week is an agreement involving US nuclear group X-Energy and UK-based Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, to develop up to 12 advanced modular reactors (AMRs) at the Hartlepool site.
In contrast to SMRs, which utilize water-cooled nuclear reactors, advanced modular reactors employ gases like helium as a coolant.
Globally, there are a limited number of AMRs operating on a commercial scale, such as China’s HTR-PM reactor.
X-Energy is also seeking to build an AMR in the US. Following the announcement of a partnership with Dow, a US chemicals and plastics company, in 2021, it took until March of this year to submit a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the project in Texas.
X-Energy envisions the reactor at the Dow site serving as a model for future deployments, with the potential for “manufacturers worldwide could replicate this model”.
The government has indicated that the Hartlepool deal could potentially provide power for 1.5 million homes and generate up to 2,500 jobs.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated: “Nuclear will power our homes with clean, homegrown energy and the private sector is building it in Britain, delivering growth and well-paid, skilled jobs for working people.”
However, Greenpeace has voiced concerns regarding the UK’s emphasis on nuclear power.
“If these proposals for new reactors scattered around Britain really materialise, the net effect will be higher bills from nuclear’s relentlessly spiralling costs, and more CO2 as we wait for the builders to overcome their inevitable construction delays,” said Dr Douglas Parr, chief scientist for Greenpeace UK.
The estimated cost of constructing large nuclear plants in the UK, such as Sizewell C in Suffolk, has risen to £38bn from a previous estimate of £20bn. Centrica is among the key investors in Sizewell C.
SMRs operate on the same fundamental principle as larger reactors, harnessing a nuclear reaction to generate heat for electricity production, but with approximately one-third of the generating output.
The modular design allows for factory construction as a kit of parts, followed by transportation and on-site assembly, akin to a flat-packed power station.
Nevertheless, the SMR industry remains in its early stages, with numerous designs under active investigation.
Centrica’s chief executive, Chris O’Shea, acknowledged on the BBC’s Today programme that increased costs and delays “can happen in all large projects”.
He further stated: “What you need to do is you need to do more than just one every 20 years in order to get better. So, the more you practice, the better you get which is why small and advanced modular reactors are particularly interesting because they’ll be repetitive so you’ll produce the same thing over and over again.
“That should bring improvements both in terms of cost and schedule and reliability and cost as well.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously expressed his ambition for the UK to reclaim its position as “one of the world leaders on nuclear”.
In the 1990s, nuclear power accounted for approximately 25% of the UK’s electricity generation; however, this figure has declined to around 15%, with no new power stations constructed since then, and many of the country’s aging reactors slated for decommissioning within the next decade.
In November 2024, the UK, alongside 30 other nations, signed a global commitment to triple their collective nuclear capacity by 2050.
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