Ed Miliband will press ahead with a new generation of mini nuclear power plants
Posted: 23rd July 2024
Ed Miliband will press ahead with a new generation of mini nuclear power plants, with plans to unveil reactor designs by September. The energy secretary has told MPs that he will give his “absolute support” to plans to build a fleet of “small modular reactors” around Britain as part of his clean energy drive. Looser planning rules are expected to allow these reactors almost anywhere outside built-up areas, in the next stage of a clean-energy blitz that has resulted in Miliband lifting a ban on onshore wind farms and approve a host of big solar arrays. Since taking office, Miliband has given planning consent to more solar power than has been installed in the past year, overriding protests from rural MPs to give the green light to projects that will power the equivalent of 400,000 homes. He is now turning his attention to nuclear power, with a final decision on Sizewell C due, alongside efforts to finish the Hinkley Point C plant. Miliband has also committed to continuing the previous government’s drive to make Britain a world leader in small modular reactors. A decision on which designs to take forward is due by the end of the summer. Miliband told MPs this week: “We will strive to keep to the timetable set out.” Describing nuclear power as “very important for the future”, he said: “This government were very clear in our manifesto about the role that nuclear power — both large-scale nuclear and SMRs — can play.” A final decision is also due this year on liberalising planning rules for modular reactors. Currently nuclear power plants can be built only on eight named sites but the previous government wanted developers to be able to identify their own location based on a new list of safety and environmental criteria. Miliband is seen as unlikely to opt for tougher rules, after repeatedly stressing to MPs this week that local concerns over development would not be allowed to veto projects seen as vital to energy security and economic growth. Under the draft rules, only “population density” and “proximity to military activities” will rule out nuclear plants, meaning they cannot be built in areas with more than 5,000 people per square kilometres, covering most towns and cities. This is designed to “minimise the risk to the public” in the event of a radioactive spill. All other criteria would be discretionary, including size, flood risk, proximity to civil airports, the natural beauty, ecological importance or cultural heritage of the site.
Times 19th July 2024