The government has announced that Wylfa in North Wales is the preferred site for a major new nuclear power development. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), ministers are in talks with international energy firms to explore the possibility of building the UK’s third mega-nuclear power station at the Anglesey location.
DESNZ has stated that the proposed gigawatt nuclear power plant has the potential to provide clean power for six million homes over the course of 60 years. This aligns with Britain’s goal of generating a quarter of its electricity – approximately 24GW – from domestic nuclear power by 2050. This target is part of the government’s plan to enhance energy security and achieve net zero emissions.
At present, the UK relies on nuclear capacity for 15% of its electricity needs. The Wylfa project is expected to be of a similar scale to the Hinkley facility in Somerset and the Sizewell facility in Suffolk. The development is also expected to bring thousands of jobs and significant investment to the region.
However, the government has faced criticism from Labour for what they deem to be a lack of progress on new nuclear at Wylfa. This came after Japanese company Hitachi abandoned a previous project at the site in 2019 due to increasing costs. The original twin reactor Magnox nuclear power station at Wylfa, which began operations in 1971, ceased power generation in 2015 and has since been decommissioned.
Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho has expressed her support for the Wylfa project, stating that the site has a strong nuclear history and has the potential to play a central role in enhancing the UK’s energy security. She also highlighted the potential for the project to create thousands of well-paying jobs and bring investment to the entire North Wales region.
The UK is pursuing a dual approach to expanding nuclear power, with traditional large-scale plants and small modular reactors (SMRs) both being considered. Proponents of SMRs believe that they will be faster and more cost-effective to construct. Great British Nuclear plans to announce the winning bidders for the SMR tendering process by the end of this year, slightly later than the government’s initial target of spring 2021.
Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, has commended the government’s decision to pursue both large-scale nuclear and SMRs. He stated that Wylfa is the most suitable site in Europe for a large-scale nuclear project, citing its existing grid connection, ideal geological conditions, and access to cooling water. He also noted that previous work on clearing the site for construction has already been completed by the previous developer.
Labour’s shadow energy minister Alan Whitehead has welcomed the government’s progress on a nuclear project that was initially identified by the previous Labour government. However, he believes that this should be the bare minimum and that the government’s slow progress is indicative of their sluggishness and lack of urgency.
