Labour’s ambition to significantly expand nuclear power in the UK has received substantial backing through a series of transatlantic agreements for novel modular reactors, announced prior to Donald Trump’s upcoming visit.
The British and American governments have pledged to accelerate safety examinations and revealed new private sector investment agreements, with Labour highlighting the potential for job creation and economic development.
In what is touted as the most significant and technologically advanced commercial enterprise, Britain’s premier energy provider, Centrica, is set to collaborate with US reactor manufacturer X-energy to construct up to 12 state-of-the-art modular reactors in Hartlepool. This venture has the potential to create up to 2,500 jobs in the North East of England.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the US-UK accord, expected to be formally ratified during the state visit, as a “pivotal nuclear partnership” that will also stimulate economic growth.
Starmer stated: “These significant commitments are positioning us for a new era of nuclear power that will, in the long run, lower household bills, and in the immediate term, deliver thousands of quality jobs.”
Under an unprecedented agreement, the UK and the US will reciprocally recognize each other’s safety inspections on reactor designs, nearly halving the licensing period for nuclear projects to approximately two years.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated that the agreement will facilitate a considerable expansion of nuclear projects, with the sector already responsible for the creation of 11,000 jobs this year, as reported by the Nuclear Industry Association.
The X-Energy-Centrica agreement confirms Hartlepool’s future in nuclear energy, where the current reactor is scheduled for decommissioning by 2028. Furthermore, it may lead to a potential expansion program of potentially 20 or more modular reactors nationwide, capable of delivering up to 6GW of power, sufficient for approximately 1.5 million homes.
Other initiatives announced include plans from the US nuclear firm Holtec, EDF Energy, and property developer Tritax for the development of high-tech data centers at the closed Cottam coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire, in an £11 billion venture.
Additionally, US-based Last Energy is partnering with DP World to build one of the world’s first micro modular nuclear power plants, which would supply DP World’s London Gateway port and business park.
The government maintains that additional nuclear facilities are crucial for self-sufficient, clean energy production to safeguard energy security. These commercial deals have followed Starmer’s declaration earlier this year of the most extensive nuclear power expansion, and the eventual approval of the new Sizewell C station in Suffolk, backed by substantial state funding.
Ministers also aim to attract significant US investment in AI data centers with the assurance of ample electricity to meet their considerable power needs.
Chris Wright, the US Secretary of Energy, stated that the US is looking to commercial nuclear power to “drive the AI revolution.” He said: “Meeting this demand requires robust partnerships worldwide and collaboration with private sector innovators.”
Wright further added that the deals will “unlock commercial opportunities in both the US and the UK, enhance global energy security, strengthen US energy dominance, and safeguard transatlantic nuclear supply chains.”
Tom Greatrex, CEO of the Nuclear Industry Association, noted that these transatlantic deals would contribute to the nuclear sector’s “industrial revival, creating thousands of high-value jobs, and enhancing the UK’s energy security.”
Besides reducing the broader dependency on foreign energy, the UK-US agreement, known as the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy, aims to eradicate any lingering dependence on Russian nuclear material by the end of 2028.
The agreement facilitates the expedient assessment of reactor designs by promoting regulatory collaboration and mutual recognition, cutting through red tape. This streamlined process will also assist British exports, with Rolls-Royce currently in the process of receiving approval for its small modular reactor design in the US.
