Great British Nuclear will improve the energy security of the UK, reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuel imports, and fulfil a government priority to develop the economy.

Today marks the beginning of a massive revival of nuclear power, positioning the UK at the forefront of a global race to develop cutting-edge technologies that rapidly deliver cleaner, cheaper, and more secure energy.

Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps will announce today how Great British Nuclear will facilitate the unprecedented expansion of new nuclear power facilities in the UK. 

This will improve the energy security of the UK, reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuel imports, create more affordable power, and stimulate economic growth, with the nuclear industry estimated to generate approximately £6 billion for the UK economy.

Companies can now register their interest with GBN to partake in a competition to win funding support for product development. 

This could lead to billions of pounds of public and private sector investment in small modular reactor (SMR) projects in the UK, demonstrating that the government is delivering on its priorities to partner with the nuclear industry and jointly drive the future of nuclear technologies.

SMRs, in contrast to conventional reactors that are constructed on-site, are smaller, can be manufactured in factories, and could revolutionise the construction of power plants by making construction faster and less costly.

GBN will play a crucial role in assisting the government in achieving its goal of generating up to a quarter of the UK’s domestic nuclear energy by 2050 and achieving among the cheapest wholesale electricity prices in Europe, all while sustaining jobs nationwide.

The government remains committed to the megaprojects of Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C and will collaborate with GBN to evaluate the prospective role of additional large gigawatt-scale nuclear power plants in the UK energy mix.

Secretary of energy security Grant Shapps said: “Britain has a rich legacy as a pioneer of nuclear power, having ushered in the era of civil nuclear power. I am proud to turbocharge its revival and reposition our nation at the forefront of global innovation.

“We will reduce energy costs for British households and ensure that energy tyrants like Putin never hold the UK to ransom.”

“Today, as we launch Great British Nuclear and the competition to develop cutting-edge small modular reactor technology, which could result in billions of pounds of public and private sector investment, we are witnessing the first strokes of our nuclear power renaissance, which will power Britain and grow our economy for decades.”

Andrew Bowie, minister for nuclear issues, said: “As pioneers of nuclear energy for decades, we are celebrating its revival in the UK with the inauguration of Great British Nuclear, which will play a crucial role in transforming how we generate energy in the UK.”

“As the UK takes the lead in the global contest to unleash a new generation of nuclear technology, I look forward to seeing the world-class designs submitted worldwide through the competitive selection process.”

Simon Bowen, chair interim of GBN, stated: “GBN is essential to implementing the government’s new nuclear programme.

Building on the work done at Hinkley Point and Sizewell, today’s announcement of the beginning of the SMR selection process represents a significant step forward in delivering the magnitude of nuclear power that the UK requires for a secure, sustainable energy future.”

“We look forward to collaborating with all concerned parties – technology suppliers, the supply chain, the broader industry, and local communities – to advance this vital programme.”

The government is also announcing a grant financing package of up to £157 million.

Up to £77.1 million in funding for companies to accelerate advanced nuclear business development in the UK and support advanced nuclear designs entering UK regulation, thereby increasing the likelihood that compact and advanced modular reactors will be constructed during the next Parliament.

Up to £58 million in funding for the development and design of an advanced modular reactor (AMR) and fuel of the next iteration. AMRs operate at higher temperatures than SMRs to provide high-temperature heat for hydrogen, other industrial applications, and nuclear energy. The winning initiatives in this most recent funding round are:

  • Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation UK in Warrington will receive up to £22.5 million to further develop the design of a high-temperature micro modular reactor, a type of AMR tailored to UK industrial demands such as hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel production.
  • Following its success in Japan, the National Nuclear Laboratory in Warrington will receive up to £15 million to accelerate the design of a high-temperature reactor.
  • National Nuclear Laboratory in Preston will receive up to £16 million to continue developing sovereign coated particle fuel capability, a form of robust advanced fuel suitable for high-temperature reactors.

With an additional £22.3 million from the Nuclear Fuel Fund, eight initiatives will be able to develop new fuel production and manufacturing capabilities in the UK, thereby enhancing energy security and contributing to the global shift away from Russian fuel. Successful initiatives include:

  • Over £10.5 million to Westinghouse Springfield’s nuclear fuel plant in Preston to produce more innovative forms of nuclear fuel for UK and international customers, boosting employment and skills in the North West.
  • Urenco UK in Capenhurst Chester, a global supplier of nuclear materials, was awarded over £9.5 million to enrich uranium to higher levels, including LEU+ and high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU). LEU+ will permit current reactors and SMRs to operate longer between refuelling outages, enhancing reactor efficiency and economics in the UK and abroad. HALEU development will ensure the UK remains at the vanguard of future advanced reactor fuel development.
  • Nuclear Transport Solutions, a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, has also been awarded over £1 million to develop transport solutions to facilitate a supply chain for HALEU in the UK and internationally.
  • Over £1.2 million to help MoltexFLEX, a North West-based developer of molten salt reactors in the UK, construct and operate rigs to develop molten salt fuel. Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) are a form of AMR that use molten salt as both a coolant and a fuel, resulting in intrinsic safety compared to conventional fuels.
  • A knowledge-sharing initiative led by expert nuclear industry consultant Arup Ove aims to facilitate sharing of valuable expertise to reduce the time, risk, and cost of AMR R&D programme delivery.

Joint Managing Director of Sizewell C, Julia Pyke, stated: “It’s encouraging to see the expanding interest in nuclear power, highlighting its central role in a future ‘net zero’ energy system. Today’s announcement is also a significant vote of confidence in Sizewell C, which will continue the transformation in British nuclear construction that Hinkley Point C initiated.”

“If Hinkley had been operational last year, consumers in the UK would have saved over £4 billion. Both projects will be essential components of Britain’s future nuclear fleet, assisting in reducing carbon emissions and energy costs for households.”

Tom Greatrex, the Nuclear Industry Association’s chief executive officer, stated: “The launch of GBN ushers in a new era for nuclear deployment in the UK, helping to drive a programme of construction at speed and on a large scale to strengthen our energy security, create decent jobs across the country, and advance our net-zero future by meeting up to 25 per cent of our future power needs.”

“Focusing on the SMR selection will demonstrate a commitment to deploying innovative technologies and create new opportunities for the UK’s industrial supply chain, domestically and internationally.”

“Various sites and communities nationwide are prepared to accommodate SMR technology and the large-scale nuclear capacity we will require.”

“Britain plays a significant leadership role in the global nuclear industry, and nowhere is this more evident than in our resolve to force Russia out of the nuclear fuel markets. The government’s Nuclear Fuel Fund will reinforce the world-class capabilities that uniquely position us to assist our allies in replacing Russian nuclear fuel supplies with Western fuel.”

CEO of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, David Peattie, stated: “Decommissioning plays a vital role in the lifecycle of nuclear power generation, and we are committed to sharing our knowledge, assets, and resources to assist GBN and the government in delivering for the British public.”

“In support of this objective, I am thrilled that our nuclear transport division, Nuclear Transport Solutions, has received over £1 million in government funding to develop a fuel transport package for new nuclear reactors.”

“We will continue to investigate opportunities to align our mission with GBN’s goals, such as the possibility of releasing our excess land for other purposes.”

The government made the historic decision to revitalise the UK nuclear industry by committing £700 million to Sizewell C, the first state investment in a significant nuclear project in over 30 years. Subject to final approval, the project will sustain 10,000 jobs during peak construction and provide reliable, low-carbon power for over 60 years to the equivalent of six million homes.

GBN, an independent organisation, will initially be managed by Simon Bowen and Gwen Parry-Jones, Interim Chair and CEO, respectively.

Following the launch of the SMR selection process today, once the initial phase is complete, GBN will downselect those technologies that have met the criteria and then engage in in-depth discussions with these companies as part of an Invitation to Negotiate phase. The initial downselection will occur in the autumn.