- Ministers announce measures to speed up preparations for
Sizewell C construction
- follows launch of Great British Nuclear to oversee rapid
expansion of nuclear power in the UK
- Sizewell C would boost the UK’s energy security and help
drive Putin further out of global energy markets
New measures announced today will speed up preparations to enable
construction to start on Sizewell C, part of a network of major
new nuclear power stations in the UK - the first in over 30
years.
Ministers today confirmed a further £170 million investment of
previously allocated funding for development work on the project.
This will be used to prepare the Sizewell C site for future
construction, procure key components from the project’s supply
chain, and expand its workforce.
At the peak of the construction work, Sizewell C would support
10,000 jobs nationwide, with supply chain plans for 70% of the
value of construction contracts to go to UK businesses.
Sizewell C would provide reliable, low carbon power to the
equivalent of 6 million homes over 60 years – saving the UK as
many as 9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
This follows the launch of a new body Great British Nuclear
(GBN) to oversee the
rapid expansion of nuclear power in the UK, which will help grow
the economy, drive down bills and boost the country’s energy
security. GBN will support large scale
projects, such as Sizewell C and Hinkley Point C, as well as
emerging nuclear technologies.
These measures will also help attract potential private
investment into new nuclear projects, alongside the government’s
introduction of the tried and tested RAB model for nuclear, and the
inclusion of nuclear in the UK’s green taxonomy, subject to
consultation.
Energy Security Secretary said:
Following the launch of Great British Nuclear, and our plans for
a massive revival of nuclear power, I am proud to be
demonstrating the government’s commitment to the continued
development of Sizewell C.
Sizewell C represents the bridge between the ongoing construction
of Hinkley Point C and our longer-term ambition to provide up to
a quarter of the UK’s electricity from homegrown nuclear energy
by 2050.
Our new nuclear fleet will provide clean, reliable, and abundant
energy whilst driving down bills, boosting economic growth and
ensure that the UK is never held to energy ransom by tyrants like
Putin.
Nuclear and Networks Minister said:
With government support, our nuclear industry will play a
critical role in supplying cleaner, home-grown energy, and boost
our energy security by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels from
abroad.
The steps we’re taking today will speed up the development of one
of our biggest projects, Sizewell C, towards final approval,
which would enable construction to start as soon as possible,
supporting thousands of jobs for communities in Suffolk and
across the country.
Like Hinkley Point C in Somerset, Sizewell C would comprise 2
reactors, generating a total of 3.2GW of electricity, equivalent
to 7% of the UK’s electricity needs.
This new nuclear power station would help deliver the
government’s ambition for up to 24GW of the UK’s power to come
from nuclear sources by 2050 – 4 times the current level.
In November 2022, the government established a £700 million
investment scheme, to fund Sizewell C’s continuing development so
it can reach the point of a final investment decision. This
funding announced today represents a permitted legacy subsidy
modification to the investment scheme under the subsidy control
rules.
