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HOMEPAGE ADVERTS
HOMEPAGE ADVERTS
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11 Oct 20231 minute read

Nuclear mini-reactors on the horizon

ECAtoday
Nuclear mini-reactors on the horizon

The UK government has selected designs from six companies—EDF, GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International LLC, Holtec Britain Limited, NuScale Power, Rolls Royce, and Westinghouse Electric Company UK Limited—for the construction of the next generation of mini nuclear reactors. 

This decision marks a crucial step in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) competition, aligning with the government's ambitious plan to derive up to 25% of the country's electricity from nuclear power by 2050. SMRs, being smaller than traditional nuclear reactors, are cost-effective and can be produced in factories, accelerating the construction process.

The chosen designs are deemed by the government and Great British Nuclear as the most capable of delivering operational SMRs by the mid-2030s. The upcoming phase will allow these companies to bid for government contracts, with successful bids proceeding to the contract award stage next summer. 

Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho emphasized that SMRs will facilitate the rapid expansion of nuclear power, providing cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy while fostering economic growth and job creation. Gwen Parry-Jones, CEO of Great British Nuclear, hailed the announcement as a crucial stride toward bolstering the country's nuclear power capabilities, with the focus on achieving a final investment decision by 2029.

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