Britain's first small modular reactor nuclear power station will be built at Wylfa, on Anglesey/Ynys Mon in North Wales, it has been announced.
The first-of-its-kind project will be built by publicly owned Great British Energy-Nuclear and is backed by 拢2.5bn investment from the 海角视频 government.
It is understood Great British Energy-Nuclear (GBE-N) has been tasked with identifying potential sites for another large-scale nuclear power plant, similar to those being built at Hinkley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk.
It will report back by autumn 2026, and has been requested by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to consider sites across the 海角视频, including in Scotland, officials said.
But the plans for small modular reactors at Wylfa have prompted an angry response from the US, with ambassador Warren Stephens describing his country as 鈥渆xtremely disappointed鈥 by the decision.
The ambassador had been pushing for a larger reactor at Wylfa, and US firm Westinghouse had reportedly presented plans to the 海角视频 Government to build a new gigawatt station at the site.
Mr Stephens said there are 鈥渃heaper, faster and already approved options to provide clean, safe energy at this same location鈥.
He added: 鈥淚f you want to get shovels in the ground as soon as possible and take a big step in addressing energy prices and availability, there is a different path, and we look forward to decisions soon on large-scale nuclear projects.
鈥淎s I have repeatedly said, we want the 海角视频 to be the strongest possible ally to the United States, and high energy costs are an impediment to that,鈥 he said.
It comes after the 海角视频 and US agreed a nuclear partnership in September, potentially worth around 拢76bn.
Small modular reactors (SMR) are mini nuclear power stations which are smaller and designed to be installed on site as prefabricated modules, with hopes the technology will be quicker to build than more traditional plants such as Hinkley Point C.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said the announcement would support up to 3,000 jobs in the local economy at the height of construction.
And it would allow Wylfa, where previous attempts to bring back nuclear power to the site of a former reactor had failed, to become a 鈥渂eacon鈥 of a nuclear golden age, the department said.
The 海角视频鈥檚 first small modular nuclear reactors, which will 鈥 subject to final contract 鈥 be designed by Britain鈥檚 Rolls-Royce SMR, are expected to generate enough electricity to power three million homes.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 鈥淏ritain was once a world leader in nuclear power, but years of neglect and inertia has meant places like Anglesey have been let down and left behind.
鈥淭oday, that changes. We鈥檙e using all the tools in our armoury 鈥 cutting red tape, changing planning laws, and backing growth 鈥 to deliver the country鈥檚 first SMR in North Wales.
鈥淭his government isn鈥檛 just reversing decline, it鈥檚 delivering thousands of future-proofed jobs, driving billions in investment, and providing cheaper energy bills in the long term.鈥
Mr Miliband said nuclear power and other clean energy, such as renewables, offered the chance of 鈥渆nergy sovereignty and energy abundance鈥 which 鈥渆very sensible nation needs in the 21st century鈥.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, he said: 鈥淥il and gas from the North Sea will continue to play a role for decades to come, but now is the time to build up our clean power resources.
鈥淚 firmly believe that we cannot have a safe, prosperous country without the sovereignty and abundance that clean energy brings.鈥
First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan added: 鈥淭his is the moment Ynys Mon and the whole of Wales has been waiting for.
鈥淣ew nuclear is a step into the future with secure jobs and secure energy guaranteed for the next generation.鈥
The Energy Department said GBE-N will start activity on the site in 2026, with an initial project for three reactors, but the site could potentially hold up to eight of the mini power plants.
It is hoped the Wylfa reactors will start supplying power to the grid from the mid-2030s.
Officials also said there would be export opportunities for SMRs, and potential for new nuclear at the former site of Oldbury, in Gloucestershire, owned by GBE-N.
