nuclear-news

UK to Partner with Big Tech on Nuclear Powered Data Centers

By Felicity Bradstock – Feb 22, 2025

• Prime Minister Starmer announced plans for a major nuclear power expansion across England and Wales, including the development of small modular reactors (SMRs).
• The government aims to streamline regulations and partner with the private sector to accelerate nuclear technology development, despite concerns about costs and safety.
• While nuclear power is seen as a key component of the UK’s clean energy transition,  there are debates about the practicality of SMRs and the potential distraction from renewable energy deployment.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. many are concerned that the development of the U.K.’s nuclear energy capacity could create a distraction from the deployment of renewable energy projects. In addition, many advocacy groups stress the existing delays in developing the U.K.’s nuclear energy sector, with companies having faced severe delays and cost increases in developing new nuclear projects in recent years. 

Industry experts warn that SMRs could be extremely expensive to develop and run. The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, which is investing in SMR development, has said that the technology “could have higher costs per MW compared to gigawatt-scale reactors”. There are also safety concerns, particularly as SMRs could be constructed on remote, non-conventional sites. This means that there must be rigorous regulations on the technology to mitigate any risk. 

 Oil Price 22nd Feb 2025, https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/UK-to-Partner-with-Big-Tech-on-Nuclear-Powered-Data-Centers.html

February 24, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized