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UK nuclear strategy launched

An industrial strategy to deliver growth in the nuclear industry has been launched, promising a new “world class” UK nuclear research facility.

The strategy aims to position the UK to take advantage of an estimated £930bn worth of global investment in building new reactors; and £250bn in decommissioning old ones.

A £15m National Nuclear Users Facility for universities and companies carrying out research will be established, with centres at Sellafield; Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire; and the University of Manchester’s Dalton Cumbrian Facility.

The strategy will be overseen by a Nuclear Industry Council, co-chaired by ministers and industry.

According to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, up to 40,000 jobs could be created in nuclear new build in the UK.

Sir John Beddington, the government’s Chief Scientific Advisor said: “I am convinced that nuclear power will play a pivotal role in the UK’s energy future. The requirement for nuclear power may exceed current plans for new build, perhaps substantially. It’s therefore crucial that we keep a wide range of technological options open so that we are able to meet this potential demand in a safe and sustainable manner. Today’s announcements on R&D and on skills are the first steps in doing exactly that.

“One of the conclusions of my work last year was that important research in the UK could be hindered through lack of access to the right facilities. I am therefore delighted that significant funding has been allocated today to provide those facilities in the future.”

The launch of the strategy follows the announcement that a new nuclear power station will be built at Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Rhian Kelly, CBI director for Business Environment policy, said: “Nuclear will be a vital player in achieving a balanced low-carbon energy mix, and with commercial opportunities worth billions of pounds at home and overseas, it is a sector that can bring real economic benefits.

“We urgently need to get the right market framework in place and the strategy should build on this to ensure the UK is well-placed to benefit from growth in new nuclear over the coming decades.

“The UK already has significant expertise in civil nuclear, but we cannot rest on our laurels, and this strategy lays out a pathway to greater R&D investment and tackling skills shortages.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .