How can the Government’s targets for SMR deployment be met? EAC questions industry experts

The Environmental Audit Committee will be holding a one-off evidence session exploring the Government’s plan for rolling out small modular reactors (SMRs) in the UK. It will consider specifically the role of SMRs to achieve the UK Government’s target for nuclear energy to generate up to 24GW by 2050, which Ministers intend to meet with a combination of  large-scale nuclear and SMRs. At present, no SMRs are in operation in the UK.

Across two panels, MPs will be hearing from the National Nuclear Laboratory, the Nuclear Industry Association, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Great British Nuclear and the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

In the first panel MPs will discuss SMR technologies, the cost-effectiveness of deploying SMRs and possible gaps in skills and supply chains. MPs will then explore the role of Great British Nuclear in SMR deployment—in particular, the current competition to identify the projects which are to receive Government support—as well as the regulation of SMRs.     

Witnesses    

From 14.15:

• Dr Gareth Headdock, Chief Science and Technology Officer, National Nuclear Laboratory
• Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive, Nuclear Industry Association
• Matthew Rooney, Head of Policy, Institution of Mechanical Engineers

From 15.15:

• Simon Bowen, Chair, Great British Nuclear
• Donald Urquhart, Executive Director of Regulation, Office for Nuclear Regulation