2024-01-11 00:03:24
The UK government wants to speed up the implementation of new nuclear projects by introducing a timetable requiring an investment decision every five years between 2030 and 2044, and will also explore the potential for a new large-scale nuclear power plant, he said. -he declared Thursday.
Britain aims to have 24 GW of nuclear capacity by mid-century, up from 6 GW today, which would meet around a quarter of the country’s predicted electricity demand.
To achieve this goal, the government wants to secure investment decisions to provide 3 to 7 GW of new nuclear power every five years between 2030 and 2044, and develop new regulations to accelerate the deployment of new plants.
Nuclear power’s share of Britain’s electricity generation has fallen to around 15%, from 27% in the 1990s, as older plants have been decommissioned and plant construction takes time. time.
Much of Britain’s nuclear fleet is nearing the end of its expected lifespan, although EDF Energy said this week it intends to extend the life of its reactors.
EDF Energy’s new 3.2 GW Hinkley Point C plant in south-west England is not expected to come on stream until at least 2027. Another 3.2 GW plant, 2 GW planned – Sizewell C in South East England – has not yet been subject to a final investment decision (DFI).
The government and developer EDF Energy began a process last year to introduce private investment into the project, but EDF said a sustainable business model was needed for the final investment decision.
Nonetheless, the government said it would be “difficult” to meet its nuclear targets without at least the option of other large-scale projects.
“We are committed to exploring another large-scale reactor project beyond Sizewell C. We will establish a timetable and process by the end of this Parliament, subject to an FID for Sizewell C,” said the Ministry of Energy Security and “net zero” in its civil nuclear roadmap.
Small modular nuclear reactors, which can be manufactured in factories more cheaply and more quickly, will also help reach the 24 GW target. The government launched a competition last year to develop them by the 2030s.
Some environmental groups have criticized government plans to expand nuclear power, which is seen as a way to reduce emissions from fossil fuels.
“Every few months the government makes a grandiose public announcement about the future of nuclear in the hope that a major investor will believe the hype and jump in to fund this 20th century technology,” said Doug Parr , chief scientist at Greenpeace UK.
The government has also said it wants to cut off all supplies of Russian fuel and uranium to Britain by 2030 and build a nuclear waste disposal facility with a maximum capacity of 24 GW.
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