UK Government Seals Pact with US on Nuclear Energy Collaboration
The UK government has announced a new agreement with the US, the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy. This partnership aims to streamline regulatory approvals for nuclear energy projects in both the UK and US markets. Companies that have passed safety approvals in the US can fast-track their approvals in the UK market, and vice versa, reducing the time it takes to license new projects from the current three to four years, to roughly two.
In a significant move, the UK government is continuing the development of the new nuclear National Policy Statement (EN-7). EN-7 is intended to set the criteria applicable to developers when applying for development consent for all future nuclear power stations in the UK. There is a feeling among consultation respondents and experts that Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) should be brought within the scope of EN-7. The government will take the views provided and assess whether the proposed EN-7 framework goes far enough.
Meanwhile, the UK's publicly owned energy company, Great British Energy, has urged the government to relax rules such as the Semi-Urban Population Density Criterion. This push comes as the government opens a consultation on proposals for an early competition Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) build model. The consultation seeks stakeholder views on the design and scope of the early competition OFTO build model, potential for a centralised tender approach, and opportunities to align elements of the OFTO build model with the onshore Competitively Appointed Transmission Owner (CATO) framework.
On the storage front, Fidra Energy has announced that it has reached financial close on its £445 million 1,400MW / 3,100MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project located at its Thorpe Marsh site in Doncaster. This project, expected to be operational in mid-2027, is predicted to export over 2 million MWh a year, enough to supply power to an estimated 785,000 homes. A total of £1 billion of funding was raised for the project, including up to £200 million from the government-backed National Wealth Fund, making it the largest BESS financing in Europe to date.
The agreement coincides with various commercial deals, including Last Energy and DP World's proposed "micro modular" plant located at the London Gateway port. This plant, using SMRs, is expected to contribute significantly to the UK's energy needs, particularly in light of the government's Clean Power 2030 plan. When paired with Fidra's planned 500MW / 1,100 MWh BESS project at West Burton, Nottinghamshire, the combined projects could provide up to 11% of the storage capacity required by the UK government's Clean Power 2030 plan.
The final NPS is expected to be published by the end of 2025, marking a crucial step forward in the UK's green transition. Interested stakeholders can send their responses to the consultation, which is open until 30 October 2025, to [email protected]. The company behind the Thorpe Marsh BESS project is EDF (Électricité de France).
The UK's nuclear energy sector is poised for significant growth, with the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy setting the stage for increased collaboration and efficiency. As the UK moves towards its clean power goals, these developments are expected to play a key role in meeting the country's energy needs while minimising carbon emissions.
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