UK’s biggest net zero project continues to deliver on jobs, investment and opportunity

Figures released today show the positive impact Hinkley Point C is having on the national and regional economy, as the UK’s largest ever green infrastructure project moves into its next phase of construction.

The station’s latest socio-economic impact report shows the ways in which nuclear projects can benefit communities up and down the country, with over £4 billion having been spent directly with South West companies so far and 14,000 jobs expected to be supported in the region. A total of 22,000 people are working on the project throughout the UK, with 4,000 additional jobs announced today.

By delivering on the ambition to supercharge new nuclear capacity, as detailed in the Energy Security Strategy, many more communities could benefit from nuclear projects like Hinkley.

Reacting to the additional jobs and the project’s Socio-economic Impact Report, Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the UK Nuclear Industry Association, said,

“Hinkley Point C shows how nuclear investment is vital to levelling up the country, sustaining thousands of high skilled, well-paid jobs and generating billions of pounds of investment in the South West in particular.

“The Government’s Energy Security Strategy envisions deploying much more nuclear power, replicating these benefits for communities up and down the country. That is why we urge the Government to take the necessary steps on siting and financing new nuclear capacity to make that vision a reality.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors

  • Hinkley Point C’s 2022 Socio-economic Impact Report can be accessed here: https://www.edfenergy.com/energy/nuclear-new-build-projects/hinkley-point-c/about/realising-socio-economic-benefits
  • The UK has six generating (6.9 GW) nuclear power stations, providing around 16% of the country’s electricity.
  • Nuclear power has saved the UK 2.32 billion tonnes of carbon emissions, far more than any other source. The saving is equivalent to all UK emissions from 2015 through 2020.
  • Three stations will retire by March 2024, and all but one will retire by 2030.
  • Hinkley Point B, which has produced more clean electricity and saved more emissions (227 million tonnes) than any other single power station in British history, is due to retire in less than three months.
  • The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) confirms that nuclear has the lowest lifecycle carbon of all technologies and the lowest land use and lowest mining and metal use of all low carbon technologies.

About the Nuclear Industry Association
As the trade association for the civil nuclear industry in the UK, the Nuclear Industry Association represents more than 200 companies across the UK’s nuclear supply chain.

Links
Visit our website: https://www.niauk.org/
Follow the NIA on Twitter @NIAUK and LinkedIn

For further information, please contact:
Iolo James
Media & Communications Manager
[email protected]
07517108023


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