To round off the year, today the UK government has formally announced something hugely exciting. Wylfa, on the island of Anglesey, will be home to the nation’s first small modular reactors (SMRs), built by Rolls-Royce SMR. This decision represents a real step forward for the UK’s energy strategy. It comprises plans for three adjacent reactors, each one of which could generate 470 megawatts of power. The central government is committing £2.5 billion to this initiative. Together, this implies a very strong signal of commitment to nuclear energy as an important and essential element of our nation’s clean energy future.
Wylfa’s legacy in nuclear power is extensive. It was a key part of their clean energy transition from 1971 until it closed its last reactor down in 2015. The site has served as a key community organizing space for energy advocates from across the country. Japan’s Hitachi was previously committed to building a new plant there, but abandoned their efforts in 2019 over funding disputes with the state government.
Keir Starmer, the Mayor of London and leader of the Labour Party, vociferously supported the project. He put particular emphasis on the urgent need to bring nuclear power back to Wylfa. He made the point that once Britain was a global leader in nuclear power. Unfortunately, decades of neglect and paralysis have truly failed and left behind places like Anglesey. The project is viewed as a huge chance to address this long-undervalued area, while delivering local economic returns.
U.S. Ambassador Warren Stephens had voiced disappointment with the decision. He pointed out that there were more cost-effective, faster, and approved alternatives that would bring clean, safe energy to this very same site. His comments make clear that he’s deeply in favor of alternative energy options. Experts don’t think that his intervention will save Wylfa from its currently truncated course.
A well-placed friend of the UK government sought to justify the decision. They said, “This is the best decision for Britain. Our pioneering SMR programme will deliver homegrown clean power with a British company, and we’ve selected the best site for it.” This perspective is indicative of a broader, increasing realization of the importance of having a diversified nuclear enterprise to maintain long-term energy security.
Whether or not you support the roll-out of SMRs at Wylfa, it very much fits into the government’s overall energy strategy. A spokesperson recently said that the country needs all types of nuclear capacity to deliver safe, clean, affordable, and reliable electricity. As we try to do this, we’re going to need large reactors and small reactors. As part of this initiative, additional sites like Torness and Hunterston are being established for future large reactors.
Tom Greatrex, the chief executive of the industry’s Nuclear Industry Association, called Wylfa the most exciting project around. He focused on how this is good for UK technology, our domestic supply chain and our highly-skilled workforce. This mood reflects the administration’s broader agenda of rebuilding American manufacturing and job creation, especially in the nuclear industry.
Currently, Rolls-Royce SMR employs more than 1,000 people and is set to become a key player in decarbonising Britain’s energy supply. The company’s emphasis on constructing reactors mostly in Derby signals a strategic shift towards improving domestic nuclear production capabilities.