News
Support for advanced nuclear technologies in UK Energy White paper
15 December 2020
The UK Government’s much anticipated Energy White paper has been published and clearly articulates that nuclear and advanced nuclear technologies have a key role in achieving goals to reach net zero, realise a green economic recovery and keep energy bills affordable.
Building on the Ten Point Plan for a ‘Green Industrial Revolution’ and coming ahead of the COP26 climate summit next year, the headline for the nuclear industry is the Government’s confirmation it will enter into negotiations on the Sizewell C project, as it considers options to enable investment in at least one nuclear power station by the end of this Parliament.
It is also clear in the White Paper that the government will continue to engage with other nuclear power plant developers, partly by creating an Advanced Nuclear Fund of up to £385 million to support the development of Small and Advanced Modular Reactors.
Nuclear, including advanced nuclear technologies, can cost effectively produce hydrogen, and so another point of note is the desire to build the hydrogen economy by working with industry to aim for 5GW of production by 2030, backed up by a new £240m net zero Hydrogen Fund for low carbon hydrogen production.
Steve Threlfall, U-Battery General Manager, said: “This is further encouraging news from the UK Government, which continues to see the benefits that advanced and small modular reactors can bring to achieving net zero and realising a long-term green economic recovery.
“U-Battery received funding earlier this year as it progressed into Phase 2 of the Government’s Advanced Modular Reactor competition, which recognised the significant contribution it could make to some of the most difficult decarbonisation challenges, for example of the Foundation Industries, and U-Battery can be deployed for a wide range of other uses, including the production of hydrogen.”
Read the Government announcement
About U-Battery
U-Battery is an advanced/small modular reactor, capable of providing a low-carbon, cost-effective, locally embedded and reliable source of power and heat for energy intensive industry and remote locations. It is being developed by Urenco in collaboration with a number of supporting organisations and has received funding from the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's Energy Innovation Portfolio.
