The U.K. government is revising its nuclear energy policy to achieve the country’s goals of energy security and clean power.
London announced in a statement Thursday that the revisions include integrating small nuclear power stations in policy planning to facilitate the plants’ construction in areas that need them. It added that Britain’s limit on eight nuclear power sites will be scrapped to enable plant construction anywhere across England and Wales.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the rules are being changed to “back the builders” in the United Kingdom. “This country hasn’t built a nuclear power station in decades. We’ve been let down and left behind,” he remarked.
Long-Term Industry Planning
London’s policy changes also include lifting the expiration date requirement on nuclear plant plans, which will give the industry more room to draft proposals.
One project already underway involves GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy. In January 2024, the company secured a $42.6 million grant from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero to support London’s goal of 24 gigawatts of nuclear power generation capacity by 2050. The GE Vernova unit will develop its BWRX-300 small modular reactor design in the United Kingdom through the award granted under the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund, which has an allocation of up to $152.2 million to help mature the country’s nuclear energy projects.
Along with its announcement on the nuclear power rule changes, the U.K. government released its Draft National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation to seek public comments on policies applicable to nuclear power stations expected to be deployed beyond 2025. The deadline for submission is April 3.