: En route to
decarbonisation, the global energy price crisis has highlighted
the current importance of gas as back up when the energy
contribution from intermittent wind and solar energy renewables
is low. This fragile system faces further challenges with most of
the UK's nuclear power plants, currently supplying around 20 per
cent of our electricity, to close by the end of the decade.
However, site proposals for new small modular nuclear reactors
include north Wales, and the UK Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill
also offers potential for a new nuclear power station at Wylfa
Newydd on Anglesey, with companies such as
Bechtel and Rolls-Royce already keen to
establish new nuclear power there.
Further to my recent meeting with the chief executive of the
Nuclear Industry Association, how do you therefore respond to his
evidence that all the modern nuclear power stations planned or
under construction in the UK can load follow—adjusting their
power output as demand for electricity fluctuates throughout the
day—and that in networks where nuclear consists of a high amount
of generation, such as France, nuclear power stations routinely
load follow or provide back up, and that in a future UK grid
consisting mainly of renewables and nuclear, nuclear would
therefore be capable of load following or providing that back up?
(Minister for Climate
Change): Well, I'm sure he's right. I don't entirely
understand what he's asking me, to be honest. I completely agree
that nuclear has a role to play if we can get the right kinds of
nuclear installation in Wales. He will know that we've got a
cluster of scientists working on that in north-west Wales and
that we're exploring the potential for Trawsfynydd. The problems
of Wylfa are well known—whether we can get an investor for that
scale of nuclear plant in Ynys Môn is just as much a
responsibility of the UK Government as us, and we're working with
them on that. If we can get that mix right, then I'm sure it does
play a part in that.
In the meantime, we're not relying on that in Wales. As I say, we
are in a quest for baseload renewables, which is what he's
talking about. If we can get that out of marine renewables
without any of the difficulties that the nuclear industry has
famously had over the years, then I would be in favour of doing
so. But, I have no problem with discussing the potential for a
nuclear solution in some parts of Wales if the technology is
available and if we can make the project wash its face in
affordability terms.
My colleague the Minister for Economy has been working with a
public sector owned company in order to exploit some of these
materials, and I'm more than happy to—well, I've been working
with my colleague the Minister for Economy on it, and I'm more
than happy to keep the Senedd informed as those developments
unfold.
