Government to build eight more nuclear power stations

Aaron Morby 3 years ago
Share

The Government has set out plans to build eight more nuclear power stations in its energy security strategy published today.

Plans two build two reactors in Sizewell C project look certain to get go-ahead
Plans two build two reactors in Sizewell C project look certain to get go-ahead

It will also ramp up delivery of offshore wind schemes hoping to produce 10GW more than previously planned.

But the long-awaited energy strategy falls short on strong measures to conserve energy with greater energy efficiency from the existing building stock.

The ambitious energy expansion would see 25% or up to 24 GW of UK electricity produced from nuclear power by 2050.

The Government aims to speed up planning, aiming on average to approve a scheme each year to 2030.

This would involve backing construction of the planned two reactors at Sizewell C in Suffolk as the next new scheme after the 3.2GW Hinkley Point project in Somerset.

Other sites mentioned as candidates for nuclear reactors include Wylfa in Anglesey and Oldbury in Gloucestershire.

Subject to technology readiness from industry, Small Modular Reactors will form a key part of the nuclear project pipeline.

The Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) business includes BAM and Laing O’Rourke among its main supply chain partners.

A single Rolls-Royce SMR power station would occupy the footprint of two football pitches and power around one million homes.

For offshore wind energy, the Government has set a new ambition of up to 50GW by 2030 – more than enough to power every home in the UK.

Up to 5GW of this would be newly-engineered floating offshore wind farms in deeper seas.

The planned expansion will be underpinned by new planning reforms to cut the approval times for new offshore wind farms from four years to one year and an overall streamlining which will radically reduce the time it takes for new projects to reach construction stages while improving the environment.

Also the Government wants to increase the UK’s current 14GW of solar capacity which could grow up to 5 times by 2035, and has pledged to consult on the rules for solar projects, particularly on domestic and commercial rooftops.

It also doubles the UK’s ambition to up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, with at least half coming from green hydrogen and utilising excess offshore wind power to bring down costs.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said: “We’re setting out bold plans to scale up and accelerate affordable, clean and secure energy made in Britain, for Britain – from new nuclear to offshore wind – in the decade ahead.

“This will reduce our dependence on power sources exposed to volatile international prices we cannot control, so we can enjoy greater energy self-sufficiency with cheaper bills.”

 

Latest news

Breyer Group battles for survival as rivals circle

Housing maintenance firm fights three winding up petitions in a month
20 hours ago

Galliford Try gets go-ahead for Milton Keynes PRS tower

33-storey tower needs gateway 2 approval before work can start
14 hours ago

Careys facing £2.4m claim by developer over demolition cartel

Giant Hong Kong developer claims it was overcharged on Lots Road Power Station job
20 hours ago

Lendlease Construction renamed Bovis

US private equity firm completes £35m purchase of UK contracting business and rebrands
19 hours ago

Multiplex profit drops a third as revenue rises to £780m

Spate of new orders sets contractor up for three years of work
19 hours ago

Galliford Try and Breheny land latest Sizewell C road deals

More infrastructure deals for new nuclear power station
1 day ago

Worker trapped in collapsed septic tank pit

Contractor and director fined after worker suffers multiple fractures
20 hours ago

Homes England buys stalled Broad Marsh site

Demolition to finally be completed as developer hunt begins
1 day ago

Vistry go-ahead for 353 homes at Rochester Riverside

Work to start on next phase of Kent town regeneration at end of this year
2 days ago

M&E firm J S Wright collapsed owing £19m

Trade creditors hit for £11.4m by employee-owned Midlands firm
2 days ago

Right to work checks to be extended to self-employed

Government plans crackdown on illegal working and rogue employers
2 days ago

Midlands developer turns to London with £1bn resi schemes trio

SevenCapital plans 1,000 flats in Kensington, Islington and the Isle of Dogs projects
2 days ago

Deck falls off huge scissor lift at Winvic site

Two men seriously injured as platform plunges to the ground
4 days ago

Weston targets Build to Rent with new division

Weston Partnerships signs first deals with asset managers and councils
2 days ago

Bouygues seals deal for £119m Cardiff college campus

Construction to start in June on two new buildings
5 days ago

£140m cash injection to speed-up flood defence schemes

Funding part of £2.65bn investment over the next two years
2 days ago

Bid race starts for £15bn schools framework refresh

DfE throws framework open to more contractors
5 days ago

Berkeley’s £600m Borough Triangle project approved

Controversial scheme features two towers of 38 and 44-storeys
5 days ago

London Mayor calls in blocked 600-bed student scheme

Refused 20-storey London PBSA block may still be built
5 days ago

HG to build 500-bed London Stratford student scheme

Work will start later this year subject to gateway 2 safety approval
5 days ago

Arrest after pedestrian death on construction site

Tragedy during site preparation works for new Wigan car park
5 days ago

British Steel threatens closure of Scunthorpe blast furnaces

Chinese owners say sectional steel and rail supplies will be maintained
6 days ago

Planning green light for Sheffield warehouse site

Existing factories to be demolished in new scheme for Rula Developments
5 days ago

New rail property company to unlock land for 40,000 homes

First four sites released in Newcastle, Cambridge, Manchester, and Nottingham
6 days ago

Drainage specialist Subscan files administration notice

Specialist employing 131 people files court notice
6 days ago

Four win Network Rail £300m engineering design deal

Eastern region deal will include design for Northern Powerhouse Rail
6 days ago

Funding go-ahead for Banwell bypass after fresh cost hike

Galliford Try contract rises £14m to £64m after final design change
6 days ago

Graham wins Southport £75m Marine Lakes Centre

Firm replaces Kier which parted ways with backer Sefton Council
6 days ago

Chancellor unveils extra £2bn capital spend a year

Construction promised a defence dividend in military base and homes upgrade work
7 days ago

McLaren confirms subcontractor team on £135m warehouse job

Work starts on TN2 Gateway site in Kent.
7 days ago

Contractor services