Ministers will relax rules to build small nuclear reactors
Posted: 9th February 2025
This may help!
MIKA – Relax, Take It Easy
Ministers will relax rules to build small nuclear reactors. Ministers are preparing to relax planning rules to make it easier to build mini nuclear power plants in more parts of the country in order to hit green energy targets and boost the industry. They are also examining whether it is possible to streamline the process for approving the safety of new nuclear power plants as a way to reduce construction delays. At present rules state that only the government may designate sites for potential nuclear power stations, of which there are eight, severely limiting where they can be built. This is seen as a serious barrier to developing small modular reactors (SMRs) that could be placed in various locations across the country, providing power for remote areas or power-hungry developments such as data centres for artificial intelligence. Under plans to update the planning regime with a new national policy statement on nuclear power, companies would be free to develop SMRs in most areas of the country outside built-up areas and would also benefit from fast-tracked planning approval, as the power plants would be designated nationally significant infrastructure. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is expected to use the government’s spending review to announce funding for one of two small modular reactors designs. GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Rolls-Royce are among companies competing for the funding in a process being run by Great British Nuclear. Reeves is also expected to make a final funding decision on Sizewell C.
Times 5th Feb 2025
The introduction of regulatory regimes focused on small modular reactors is something many countries are wrestling with. It is something that the SMR Regulators’ Forum was set up to help with, as this World Nuclear News Briefing on its history and work explains.
World Nuclear News 4th Feb 2025