The UK’s nuclear industry has unanimously welcomed the Sector Deal, which Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark outlined at the nuclear-licensed Trawsfynydd site in North Wales. The document, which includes GBP200 million (USD262 million) in funding for the sector, was developed by the Nuclear Industry Council (NIC) – whose membership is drawn from across energy, manufacturing, engineering, science and research – in partnership with the government. The NIC unveiled its proposals for a nuclear Sector Deal in December last year, following the government’s publication of its Industrial Strategy white paper, which highlights the role of nuclear energy in the UK. Clark said it is a “commitment by the sector to work collectively, with support from government, to deliver on the Industrial Strategy, drive clean growth throughout the economy and make civil nuclear power an integral part of the UK’s energy future”. Its key elements include: up to GBP56 million for research and development for advanced modular reactors; GBP86 million for a national fusion technology platform at Culham, Oxfordshire; GBP40 million for a facility to support the design of advanced nuclear technologies; GBP32 million for an advanced manufacturing and construction programme; and GBP30 million for a new national supply chain programme. It also outlines a commitment from industry to reduce the cost of new nuclear build projects by 30% by 2030 and the cost of decommissioning old nuclear sites by 20% by 2030. In addition, it says there will be a new review to look at ways to accelerate the clean-up of nuclear ‘legacy’ sites. It also makes a commitment to increasing gender diversity in the civil nuclear workforce with a target of 40% women in nuclear by 2030.
World Nuclear News 28th June 2018 read more »
A new £200 million deal between the nuclear industry and Government which aims to drive down the cost of new nuclear power stations and decommissioning programmes, has been roundly welcomed in Cumbria. The landmark Nuclear Sector Deal, unveiled by Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark, pledges to drive down the cost of new build by up to 30 per cent by 2030 and reduce the cost of decommissioning and waste management by 20 per cent. Other high-profile pledges agreed by leading businesses and Whitehall, is to have a 40 per cent female workforce by 2030, investments in advanced manufacturing and skills, and help for supply chain companies to win work in the UK and overseas. It also promises support for innovation, skills and supply chain clusters through Local Enterprise Partnerships in key regions, including Cumbria.
Carlisle News & Star 28th June 2018 read more »
The UK government has announced an ambitious £200m funding deal with the nuclear sector that could lead to a new generation small modular reactor being built at an existing nuclear site in north Wales. The government said the nuclear deal will ensure that nuclear energy continues to power the UK for years to come through major innovation, cutting-edge technology and ensuring a diverse and highly-skilled workforce. The deal, part of the country’s long-term industrial strategy, is worth over £200m and follows the government’s recent announcement that it is to enter into negotiations with Hitachi over plans to build two UK Advanced-Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) units at Wylfa Newydd on the island of Anglesey in north Wales. The government said the deal will spearhead Britain’s move towards cleaner economic growth. It focuses on innovation to develop the technology and skills needed to maintain the UK’s position as “one of the world’s leading nuclear countries”. While the bulk of the £200m investment is confirmation of support pledged last year, the site chosen to launch the sector deal is being seen as significant. The Trawsfynydd nuclear site, in north Wales, is seen as a possible location for an SMR. About £56m will go to help eight vendors of SMRs carry out technical studies.
Nucnet 28th June 2018 read more »
Sellafield Ltd welcomes Nuclear Sector Deal.
Politics Home 28th June 2018 read more »
Green groups expressed scepticism at the industry’s ability to drive down costs and challenge increasingly cost-competitive renewables. “Promises that costs of nuclear power will come down have historically been proved false over the past 50 years,” said Greenpeace UK’s policy director Doug Parr. “Fortunately for the nuclear industry, the repeated broken promises have been met by a stream of new or impressionable UK politicians coming into power and offering to spend taxpayers’ money on bad investments. Unfortunately for the nuclear industry, most other developed nations have realised that nuclear power is being outcompeted by cheap renewables, and have given nuclear either no role at all, or only a bit part, in their future energy plans. Only the UK government is left clinging on to the old fashioned dream of ‘cheap’ nuclear power, unwilling to admit that more affordable and reliable power is coming from renewables and smart technology, and without the risks and liabilities that extortionate new nuclear builds create.”
Business Green 28th June 2018 read more »
Commons Library briefing paper summarises current progress on nuclear power, including conventional reactors, advanced designs, waste disposal and nuclear research.
Parliament 28th June 2018 read more »