nuclear-news

Great British Nuclear seeks to buy EDF land for small modular reactor.

UK Government in talks to buy site in Heysham, Lancashire, as it rolls out the new
technology.

The government is holding talks with EDF to take control of
land at a site in Lancashire as part of plans to roll out mini-nuclear
power stations in Britain. Great British Nuclear is in early discussions
with the French state-owned energy group over buying land adjacent to its
existing nuclear plants at Heysham, with a view to potentially giving the
green light for a private developer to build a small modular reactor there.

The 255-acre site is one of eight in Britain approved for new nuclear
development and is the location of EDF’s Heysham 1 and Heysham 2 nuclear
power stations. Almost 109 acres has a nuclear site licence, while the rest
is being used for other purposes. Britain’s first small nuclear plants
are due to be awarded government contracts this summer after six designs,
including one from Rolls-Royce, were selected to compete for up to £20
billion in taxpayer funding.

The government does not expect to make a final
investment decision on the first small modular reactor until 2029. Great
British Nuclear is searching initially for two sites, each to house a
single mini-reactor, with a plan to build between four and six in total, as
part of the first phase of the rollout in Britain.

 Times 19th Feb 2024

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/great-british-nuclear-seeks-edf-land-for-small-modular-reactor-kmqd3hhz8

February 20, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK