Nuclear supply companies in the UK and US have signed major new deals to boost the construction of new nuclear power stations, and enhance the investment of billions in private investment into clean energy. These deals have been enabled by a new agreement between the US and UK governments, expected to be signed during Donald Trump’s state visit this week, that will make it quicker for companies to build new nuclear power stations in both countries, by for example reducing the time it takes for a nuclear project to get a licence from around three or four years to two.
The deal clears the way for a major expansion of new nuclear projects in the UK, a sector which has already seen 11 000 new jobs this year following government-led investment, according to new statistics from the Nuclear Industry Association.
The expansion of nuclear power is central to the UK government’s clean energy mission, and is part of its drive to build more clean homegrown power to ensure energy security.
Access to market
Building on existing UK and US collaborations including that between Rolls-Royce and BWXT, the UK government has increased access to the market for both UK and US companies with new major commercial deals to be announced this week, namely:
- X-Energy and Centrica have plans to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, NE England, with a follow-on UK wide programme targeting a fleet of 6 GW of nuclear power. According to the two companies, the approximately 1.5 GW Hartlepool project would create up to 2500 jobs. It is estimated that the overall programme could deliver at least £40 billion in economic value, with £12 billion of that focused for the North East of England.
- Holtec, EDF and Tritax have plans to develop advanced data centres powered by small modular reactors at the former Cottam coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire, UK. Holtec estimate the project value to be around £11 billion.
- Last Energy and DP World plan to establish one of the world’s first micro modular nuclear power plants, backed by £80 million in private investment, to unlock a clean power supply for the expansion of DP World’s London Gateway port and business park.
- Urenco and Radiant have signed a deal, worth around £4 million, to supply advanced HALEU fuel to the US market. Urenco is building an advanced fuels facility in the UK co-funded with the UK government and is exploring building a similar facility in the USA.
- TerraPower and KBR plan to conduct studies and evaluate sites in the UK for the deployment of the Natrium advanced reactor technology, with each Natrium reactor supporting around 1600 construction jobs and 250 permanent jobs and delivering saf and flexible nuclear power paired with gigawatt-scale energy storage.
New ‘Golden age’ of nuclear
In the background to these developments is the announcement of the biggest build-out of new UK nuclear power in generations, including a multi-billion deal giving Sizewell C the green light. This is alongside the development of one of Europe’s first small modular reactor programmes, and record investment in fusion. Prime minister Keir Starmer commented: “This landmark UK-US nuclear partnership is … setting set us well on course to a golden age of nuclear that will drive down household bills in the long run, while delivering thousands of good jobs in the short term. Together with the US, we’re building a golden age of nuclear that puts both countries at the forefront of global innovation and investment.
Nuclear regulators renew UK–US collaborative agreement
On the same day, 15 September, that regulators announced a new initiative to streamline regulation and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors across UK and US markets, the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) signed a refreshed Memorandum of Understanding. Signed by Mike Finnerty, ONR’s Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector, and David Wright, the NRC’s Chairman, the MoU reaffirms the agreement signed in 2020 to co-operate closely and exchange technical information as the two countries move towards the deployment of safe and secure nuclear technologies globally. Supported by the MoU, ONR and the Environment Agency, alongside the NRC, have also announced a new collaborative initiative that will:
- Cut duplication and fast-track decisions by targeting reactor design reviews within two years, and nuclear site licensing within one year. The Environment Agency will explore accelerating site permitting.
- Share the regulatory load: regulators will lead on specific aspects of reviews and mutually recognise each other’s assessment, with appropriate due diligence to ensure legal compliance and retain independent decision-making.
- Accelerate second-jurisdiction reviews: where one regulator has already assessed a design, the second regulator will maximise the acceptance of assessment of completed work to avoid duplication and speed up deployment.
- Focus on technologies that are already in licensing, or ready to enter the process in the UK and/or the US.
This initiative reflects a shared commitment to regulatory excellence, enabling safe, efficient, and timely deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies.
Mike Finnerty, ONR’s CEO, said: “The opportunities presented through the refreshed Memorandum of Understanding, and new collaborative way of working outlined in the partnership agreement clearly reaffirm our shared commitment to effective, safe and secure nuclear operations. We have had a strong relationship with our US counterparts for many years, and we look forward to developing greater collaboration to optimise the collective regulatory We will also continue to work with industry, through routes such as our early engagement framework to enhance early understanding of regulatory expectations, further enabling timely deployment.”
David A. Wright, Chair of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said: “We are taking our long-standing partnership with UK’s Office of Nuclear Regulation to the next level and redoubling our joint efforts to advance, enable, and deploy nuclear technologies for the future.”
