New nuclear station will help free UK from gas imports with clean, reliable, British power

The Nuclear Industry Association has welcomed the government’s decision to proceed with the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, with the Chancellor saying it “represents the biggest step in our journey to energy independence.”

In his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor re-affirmed the government’s commitment to a major acceleration of homegrown clean energy technologies, including, “above all”, nuclear.

Sizewell C, as confirmed by the Chancellor, will create “10,000 highly skilled jobs and provide reliable, low carbon power to the equivalent of six million homes” for at least 50 years, cutting gas use and helping to free the UK from its dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets, which have pushed up daily electricity prices to record levels this year.

In response to the announcement, the Nuclear Industry Association’s Chief Executive, Tom Greatrex, said,

“This is a huge moment for Sizewell C, for UK energy security and for the future of nuclear in Britain. Sizewell C will be one of the UK’s most important green infrastructure projects ever, and critical to the government’s commitment to strengthen energy independence, cut gas use and bring down bills.

“The UK now needs to urgently get on with building new nuclear plants alongside renewables to meet the targets set out in the Energy Security Strategy, and we look forward to Sizewell C contracts being signed in the next few weeks.

“This announcement also paves the way for the development of a pipeline of new nuclear projects, both large and small modular reactors, to deliver clean, reliable power for the British people.”

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 stations will retire by March 2024, and all but one will retire by March 2028.
  • 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.
  • The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) found that nuclear has the lowest lifecycle carbon of all technologies, the lowest land use of all low-carbon technologies and the lowest lifecycle impact on ecosystems of any electricity technology. Read the full report here.

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


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