The government has detailed its plans for the UK to grow its nuclear investment and capabilities, stating that it must re-assert its role as a leading nuclear nation.
In its recently published Industrial Strategy, the government outlined key goals for expanding investment in civil nuclear technology and defence capabilities to secure the country’s security and economic growth.
“As the world’s first civil nuclear nation – one which also has significant defence capabilities – the UK has deep nuclear expertise,” the government said.
“As we renew our defence industry and make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower, the UK stands at a pivotal moment to re-assert and revolutionise its role as a leading, responsible and innovative nuclear nation.”
“Our civil and defence nuclear capabilities – sharing many requirements for technology, expertise and infrastructure – are the bedrock of the country’s energy and national security,” it added.
Going forward, the UK will continue to invest in the future of its nuclear deterrent and collaboration with countries such as the US to maximise the benefits of this system.
“Our commitment to our National Endeavour – securing the future of our nuclear deterrent – is unwavering, reinforced by our ‘triple lock’. Major investments include two submarine programmes in build (Astute and Dreadnought), one in design (SSN-AUKUS), a Replacement Warhead programme (Astraea) and the largest infrastructure upgrades in a generation.”
Nuclear energy also has a major role to play in the future of the country, with the government investing substantially in fission energy and newer technologies such as fusion to drive economic growth.
This faster pace of development will be balanced by the UK’s high standards for nuclear security, safety, and non-proliferation, the government said.
“We are crowding in investment on a scale not seen in decades,” the government said, noting that the UK will start to take an active role in embracing early risk to attract investment in civil nuclear technologies.
Examples of this investment include £14.2 billion to build the Sizewell C nuclear reactor, which aims to support 10,000 jobs at peak construction, and over £2.5 billion to develop one of Europe’s first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programmes, enabled by a partnership between Rolls-Royce SMR and Great British Energy – Nuclear.
The government will look at new ways to encourage private nuclear technologies projects to build in the UK, exploring incentives to fund these projects from the National Wealth Fund.
The UK will also build the world’s first commercial-scale High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel supply chain, which aims to support the deployment of next-generation reactors and provide energy security for the UK and its allies.
Chief among the UK’s long-term plans for investment in this sector is the development of fusion technology, with £2.5 billion committed over the next five years to funding a prototype fusion reactor enabled by the STEP programme.
“To secure a truly prosperous nuclear nation, we will continue to invest in the long-term foundations of the whole nuclear sector,” the government said.
“We are investing £20 billion over the next four years into civil nuclear, with a projected spend of over £100 billion through UK defence nuclear suppliers over the next 10 years.”
“This will be a national effort across many decades, bringing together government, industry and academia to realise the benefits of an advanced nuclear nation.”
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