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The United Kingdom and the United States are poised to formalize an agreement centered on accelerating the deployment of nuclear energy technologies.
This accord seeks to stimulate job creation and bolster Britain’s energy independence.
The agreement is anticipated to be finalized during US President Donald Trump’s state visit this week, with both nations expecting it to unlock billions in private sector investment.
However, some of the designs underpinning these ventures are relatively nascent, and the realization of nuclear energy generation for residential and commercial use may require considerable time.
The primary objective of the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy is to expedite the construction of new nuclear power facilities in both the UK and the US.
The initiative aims to reduce the regulatory approval timeline for nuclear projects from up to four years to a targeted two years.
In practical terms, safety assessments conducted and approved in one country can be leveraged to support regulatory processes in the other.
The UK’s existing nuclear strategy incorporates plans for small modular reactors (SMRs), which represent scaled-down versions of larger conventional plants. British engineering firm Rolls Royce has been selected to spearhead the design and construction of the nation’s first SMR.
Among the commercial agreements slated for signing this week is a deal involving US nuclear firm X-Energy and the UK’s Centrica, parent company of British Gas, to establish up to 12 advanced modular reactors (AMRs) in Hartlepool.
Distinguishing themselves from water-cooled SMRs, advanced modular reactors employ gases such as helium for cooling purposes.
The number of AMRs operating commercially worldwide is limited, with China’s HTR-PM reactor being a notable example.
X-Energy seeks to construct an AMR in the US. Following the announcement of a partnership with US chemicals and plastics manufacturer Dow in 2021, the company submitted a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in March of this year for the project in Texas.
X-Energy envisions the reactor at the Dow site as a model for future deployments, suggesting that “manufacturers worldwide could replicate this model.”
Government sources have indicated that the Hartlepool agreement has the potential to power 1.5 million households and generate up to 2,500 employment opportunities.
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 prioritization of nuclear energy.
Dr. Douglas Parr, chief scientist for Greenpeace UK, commented: “If these proposals for new reactors scattered around Britain really materialize, the net effect will be higher bills from nuclear’s relentlessly spiraling costs, and more CO2 as we wait for the builders to overcome their inevitable construction delays.”
The estimated cost of constructing large-scale nuclear facilities in the UK, such as Sizewell C in Suffolk, has risen to £38 billion from a previous estimate of £20 billion. Centrica is a significant investor in Sizewell C.
SMRs operate on the same fundamental principle as larger reactors, utilizing nuclear reactions to generate heat for electricity production, but they possess approximately one-third of the generating capacity.
The modular design facilitates factory construction as a kit of parts, enabling transportation and assembly on-site, akin to a “flat-packed power station.”
However, the SMR industry remains in its early stages, with numerous designs under exploration.
Centrica’s chief executive, Chris O’Shea, acknowledged to the BBC’s Today program that cost overruns 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 articulated his ambition for the UK to reclaim its position as “one of the world leaders on nuclear”.
In the 1990s, nuclear energy accounted for approximately 25% of the UK’s electricity generation. This figure has since declined to around 15%, owing to the absence of new power station construction and the impending decommissioning of many of the nation’s aging reactors over the next decade.
In November 2024, the UK, alongside 30 other nations, signed a global commitment to triple their nuclear capacity by 2050.
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