In response to National Grid ESO’s 2022/23 Winter Outlook Report, Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said:

“This latest warning lays bare the fragility of our power system and underscores the desperate need to strengthen our home grown energy capacity.

“To do that we need to urgently increase our nuclear capacity to provide firm, clean power, alongside renewables. We cannot continue to rely on energy imports and volatile gas markets, which threaten our energy security and drive up bills.

“Had decisions been made sooner on projects like Hinkley Point C – which would have saved consumers at least £3bn had it been online this winter – the industry wouldn’t have to be playing catch up now.”

ENDS

Notes to editors: 

• The UK has five generating nuclear power stations, providing around 16% of the country’s electricity from 5.9 GW of capacity.
• Two further stations will retire by March 2024, and all but one will retire by March 2028.
• Hinkley Point C, the only new nuclear power station under construction in the UK, is due to begin generating in 2027.
• Nuclear has saved the UK 2.3 billion tonnes of carbon emissions, far more than any other source. The saving is equivalent to all UK emissions from 2015 through 2020.

About the Nuclear Industry Association

As the trade association for the civil nuclear industry in the UK, the Nuclear Industry Association represents more than 250 companies across the UK’s nuclear supply chain.

Links

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

For further information, please contact:

Iolo James,
[email protected]
07517108023