Commons Library briefing note on New Nuclear Power

In September 2016, the Government gave the final go-ahead to Hinkley Point C, the first nuclear power station for a generation.

Successive Governments have supported the development of new nuclear as a reliable way of generating low carbon power, improving the UK’s energy security, and also, in the case of advanced reactors, having the potential to be used to reduce the UK’s spent fuel and plutonium stockpile problem.

The UK has 15 existing reactors, generating about 21% of its electricity, and 13 others are at various stages of the construction or planning process. The last Conservative Government also announced initiatives and funding for advanced reactors, including £250 million for development. The current Government has announced support for nuclear power in its Industrial Strategy as well as specific funding in areas such as nuclear fusion research and small modular reactors.

This paper summarises current progress on nuclear power, including conventional reactors, advanced designs, waste disposal and nuclear research.