This week’s vote by the UK Parliament on the National Policy Statements for Energy has given the go-ahead for a new generation of British nuclear power stations.

The major milestone in securing the UK’s long-term low-carbon energy supplies confirms “It is Government policy that new nuclear power should be able to contribute as much as possible to the UK’s need for new capacity.”

The UK Nuclear Industry Association warmly welcomed the landslide vote for a British nuclear future.

Keith Parker, the NIA’s chief executive said the result, 267 votes for and only 14 against, was a clear indication that there was broad consensus that new nuclear must be at the heart of the UK’s low-carbon future.

The ratification follows publication of the Government’s White Paper on Electricity Market Reform – another major facilitative measure from Government aimed at incentivising investment by energy companies in cleaner and greener low-carbon energy, including nuclear.

These positive moves come after the independent UK regulator Mike Weightman’s interim report into the implications of Fukushima found that the UK nuclear industry had displayed “a leadership for safety and strong safety culture.” Weightman’s interim findings also concluded that there was no reason for curtailing the operation of currently operating UK nuclear power stations.

Keith Parker said: “This vote shows that Parliament recognises the importance of nuclear power in the UK’s energy future. Together with last week’s publication of the Electricity Market Reform White Paper - which will encourage low carbon generation - the ratification of the NPSs represents a major step forward on the road to new nuclear build. ”

He continued: “This is good news for the UK and good news for companies looking to invest in the UK’s energy future. The customer will also welcome the move to a cleaner and more stably-priced energy future for the UK.

UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry said: “The overarching national policy statement sets out the need for each of the different energy infrastructure technologies. It makes clear that we need a diverse mix to provide affordable, clean energy…. It sets out the part that renewables and new nuclear power stations will play in meeting our emissions reductions targets.”

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