“Nuclear for me means stability, opportunity for generations and a job for life.” This is why we keep on pushing for new nuclear projects. Why we want the industry to succeed. And why bringing nuclear back to Wylfa is seen as such a big deal.
Those opening words belong to Kieron Salter, a young nuclear engineer from Ynys Môn, who began his career on the Horizon project, only to be forced to leave home when the project collapsed. He now works at Hinkley Point C, but still speaks of Wylfa with a deep sense of belonging and a hope that nuclear power will one day bring him back to Wales. His story reflects the experience of many young people who trained for a future they expected to build on the island, only to watch that future fall away. All they ever wanted was to stay, to work, and to put down roots.
That is why the announcement that nuclear will now return to Wylfa as the site for the first Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors is such momentous news. This decision is far more than an energy policy milestone – it is the beginning of a new chapter for the island and for North Wales. After years of setbacks, false starts and missed opportunities, the commitment to bring SMRs to Wylfa marks a genuine new era for the island.
Wylfa itself has a proud legacy. The original Wylfa A station transformed a community once dependent on agriculture and tourism, providing decades of high-skilled employment and stability. Its closure a decade ago left not only an energy gap, but an economic one too – a void felt deeply across the island which has seen the population fall and jobs lost.
Wylfa has always been more than a plot of land. It is a symbol of what Wales could achieve with the right investment and support. The scale of what lies ahead is extraordinary: billions of pounds in inward investment, thousands of skilled jobs, and the revival of supply chains across North Wales. For a region that has faced some of the toughest economic challenges in the UK, this is nothing short of transformational.
The technology matters too. Rolls-Royce SMRs offer a modern nuclear solution: flexible, cost-effective, and deliverable. The initial phase will see three 470 MW reactors built on the site, totalling 1.4 GW, but eight could be accommodated on a site which has long been courted by developers. The fact that Wales will be home to the first of these next-generation reactors puts the nation at the forefront of global energy innovation.
But perhaps the greatest significance of this announcement is what it means for the people of Ynys Môn themselves. The young engineers who had to leave the island after Horizon’s collapse may now see a path home. Young people who once felt they had no choice but to move away for skilled work may soon have a reason to stay. Families who feared declining opportunities may finally feel the tide turning. That is what this project signifies. That is what nuclear offers.
This is not just about power generation, it is about restoring confidence, unlocking potential, and securing long-term prosperity for generations. It means building something lasting, something that gives people a reason to believe in the future of their community.
There is still work to do. The planning, financing, local engagement and delivery will take time and care. But for the first time in years, there is real momentum. With strong commitment from government and industry, and with local support that has endured through every setback, the foundations for success are firmly in place.
Wylfa has been called the greatest economic prize in Welsh history – and with good reason. If we get this right, the return of nuclear power to Ynys Môn will not only energise the nation, it will bring real opportunities for people who may have previously felt they had no choice but to move away.
This article was originally published in 2025 Winter Edition of Industry Link. Read the full edition here.
Tom Greatrex is the Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association
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