nuclear-news

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. T

his 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, https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/labour-ministers-rachel-reeves-relax-nuclear-reactor-rules-92cpcc6wj

February 6, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety