Nuclear reactors and off-shore wind farms are among Government plans revealed to boost the UK’s energy independence.
The Government has released its UK Energy Security Strategy, which says up to eight more nuclear reactors could be built on existing sites to provide 25 per cent of electricity demand.
Under the new Government strategy, up to 95 per cent of the UK’s electricity could come from low-carbon sources by 2030.
It revealed that a new body called Great British Nuclear will also be launched, with the hope that by 2050 up to 24 GW of electricity will come from that source.
It has said the focus on nuclear will deliver up to eight reactors overall, with one being approved each year until 2030.
It also confirmed advanced plans to approve two new reactors at Sizewell in Suffolk during this parliament.
Moorside, next to Sellafield, is already among the sites shortlisted to host the UK’s first prototype nuclear fusion plant. It had previously been identified as the proposed location for a new nuclear power generation site for NuGeneration, a British subsidiary of Toshiba-owned Westinghouse Electric Company.
However, that plan did not go ahead.
Rolls-Royce is working on small modular reactors, which last month entered the assessment phase with watchdog the Office for Nuclear Regulation, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales.
The Government also said it would reform planning rules to slash approval times for new offshore wind farms.
Cumbria already has the Walney Offshore wind farm, off the coast of Barrow, and RWE’s Robin Rigg, off the coast of Maryport.
For onshore wind, the strategy only commits to consulting on developing partnerships with a limited number of supportive communities who want to host wind turbines in exchange for lower energy bills.
Although it is one of the cheapest forms of energy, new onshore wind projects have been declining since 2015 when the government ended subsidies and introduced stricter planning rules in response to some complaints that wind turbines were an eyesore and noisy.
Targets for hydrogen production are also being doubled.
As well as increasing the production of renewable energy, there are also plans to accelerate North Sea oil and gas projects.
A new licensing round for the projects is set for the autumn.
Jacobs, which employs around 2,000 people in Cumbria, Warrington and Knutsford, welcomed the strategy.
Dawn James, vice president nuclear power, said: “The UK Energy Security Strategy rightly identifies nuclear power as a key clean energy solution in the transition to a net-zero carbon economy.
“Jacobs is a lifetime partner of EDF working to support the safe, reliable operation of the UK’s existing fleet of nuclear power stations and life extension of Sizewell B.
“We are working on Hinkley Point C, on the Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor, on Urenco’s U-Battery micro reactor, and on nuclear fusion.
“We believe that large scale reactors, small modular reactors and fusion power will play a crucial part in reducing our dependency on fossil fuels and we are working to ensure that the UK is at the forefront of developing them.
“We welcome the intention to progress the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station at pace. It will produce enough electricity every year to avoid burning 5.4 billion cubic metres of gas.
“As well as providing the UK with security of supply, nuclear power has the lowest carbon footprint of any energy source, making it an important part of the mix of climate change solutions the world needs.”
