Hopes for a full-scale nuclear plant at the Wylfa site on Anglesey have been boosted by a report from a cross-party group of MPs.
The report from the Nuclear APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) says 海角视频 Government must make urgent decisions in this Parliament to restore 海角视频 nuclear capacity to at least 10 GW based on deployable technologies by the early 2030s.
Net Zero Needs Nuclear: A Roadmap to 2024 argues that decisions are needed to cut emissions and to preserve the 海角视频鈥檚 exceptional nuclear skills base, since most of the Britain鈥檚 nuclear fleet will retire by March 2024, and all but one station by 2030.
The report states that Uk Government should:
鈻 Support Sizewell C to Final Investment Decision (FID) in 2022
鈻 Establish the siting and policy framework in 2022 to enable the deployment of a fleet of SMRs and an AMR demonstrator.
Wylfa and Trawsfynydd are frontrunners to site SMRs.
鈻 Government commitment to at least 1 additional Gigawatt-scale nuclear power plant by the middle of 2024 and to enable further Gigawatt-scale development. Wylfa is widely rated in the sector as one of the best sites for nuclear in Europe and would be a leading contender for this investment.
Ynys Mon MP Virginia Crosbie, Vice-Chair of the APPG, said: 鈥淪ites like Wylfa Newydd in my constituency of Ynys M么n are primed for new nuclear investment.
鈥淪hould the Government back a new financing model and take this Roadmap forward, we can begin building the new stations we need.
鈥淲ith most of our fleet retiring in three years it is vital that we move forward with sites like Wylfa Newydd.鈥
The previous plan by Hitachi to develop Wylfa Newydd collapsed due to a failure to reach a suitable funding arrangement with 海角视频 Government.
The report states: 鈥淭he most important step is for the Government to introduce legislation for a new nuclear financing model.
鈥淔inancing is the costliest part of new construction, so Government support would drive investor confidence and make it cheaper to fund and build new stations.鈥
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: 鈥淥nly nuclear can replace nuclear.
鈥淲ith urgent action from Government, the industry is ready, willing and able to provide firm power capacity, through large and small reactors designs, to cut emissions and create good jobs across this country.
鈥淣uclear technologies alone can produce always-on, low-carbon power, and options for clean heat and hydrogen going forward. With most of our fleet retiring, we need urgent investment in large and small scale nuclear projects to realise the promise of a net zero future.鈥
The report estimates that, if delivered, these steps would create more than 90,000 jobs in the 海角视频 and save more than 30 million tonnes of emission per year by 2035.
It said without new investment, job losses throughout the supply chain will accelerate to 2030 and the 海角视频 will lose key capabilities in fuel manufacturing and critical reactor technology expertise. Most of the jobs and capabilities lost would be concentrated in 海角视频 regions outside London and the South East, setting back the Government鈥檚 levelling up agenda.
The report warned 海角视频 would also lose 30% of its indigenous clean power generation. It added: 鈥淲ithout a clean, firm power base to stabilise the grid, the 海角视频 will have to pay for costly fossil fuels and imported power to cover gaps in generation. By 2035, emissions will be 200 million tonnes higher.鈥
