GMB, the energy union, has welcomed the
Government’s commitment to new nuclear
power.
The key points of the government announcement
are [1] :
- New £200 million Nuclear Sector Deal to
secure the UK’s diverse energy mix and drive down the costs of
nuclear energy meaning cheaper energy bills for
customers\
- Includes £32 million boost from
Government and industry to kick-start new advanced manufacturing
programme including R&D investment to develop potential
world-leading nuclear technologies like advanced modular
reactors
- A commitment to increasing gender
diversity in the civil nuclear workforce with a target of 40%
women in nuclear by 2030
- The unlocking of growth opportunities
in the nuclear supply chain through joint Government and industry
support for smaller companies in the UK to access higher value
contracts and new markets
- The strengthening of pioneering
research with the potential for global impact - with a national
fusion technology platform at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s
Science Centre in Culham in Oxfordshire supported by government
funding of £86 million.
- Up to £44 million for research and
development funding to support the development of Advanced
Modular reactors
- A dynamic new partnership with Welsh
Government to develop a £40 million thermal hydraulics facility
in North Wales as part of the Nuclear Innovation Programme to
support the design and development of advanced nuclear
technologies
- A firm commitment from industry to
reduce the cost of new nuclear build projects by 30% by 2030, and
the cost of decommissioning old nuclear sites by 20% by
2030
- A new review to look at ways to
accelerate the clean-up of nuclear ‘legacy’ sites (where there
was previous nuclear activity) – doing this safely whilst
providing value for money to the taxpayer
- A significant reduction in the high
costs associated with the sector through investment in new
world-class technology meaning nuclear energy can be produced in
a more cost-effective way- and cheaper bills and peace of mind
for energy consumers
- The emerging findings of the Expert
Finance Working Group’s analysis of small modular reactors. The
independent group’s analysis suggest that the UK is well placed
to develop first of a kind small reactor projects, and that the
characteristics of SMRs could attract private
investment.
The country desperately needs the electricity
and jobs these zero-carbon nuclear reactors will produce as part
of balanced energy mix of renewables, nuclear and
gas.
What is crucial now is certainty, in particular
around the funding - with a goverment stake key to keeping the
cost down for electricity bill payers.
The big prize with future new nuclear projects
is for them to be UK designed and built and suitable for export
where there is huge foreign interest and demand.
For the 12 months from 7 March 2017, every one
in 5.6 days was a low wind day (65 days in total) when the output
of the installed and connected wind turbines in the UK produced
less than 10% of their installed and connected capacity for more
than half of the day.
For 341 days in the year, solar output was
below 10% of installed capacity for more than half of the day.
[2]
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary,
said:
“This is a good news story for vital UK
infrastructure and jobs but there must be a government stake and
certainty on the financing to make the Nuclear Sector Deal
work.
"As the existing UK fleet of nuclear power
stations reach the end of their working lives, the country
desperately needs the electricity and jobs these zero-carbon
stations will produce as part of balanced energy mix of
renewables, nuclear and gas.
“Government must now be bold and
decisive. It is Government delay and procrastination, as
well a reluctance to get on and make the key strategic decisions
the country needs, that everyone in the nuclear sector complains
about.
"GMB welcomes the Government’s commitment – but
they must also pledge to back the projects financially so we
don’t end up at the mercy of foreign investors, like in the
Moorside fiasco.
“The treble prize for Small Modular Reactors
must be that they are UK designed, UK manufactured and their
massive export potential is realised.
“GMB says that the DfE must also work to break
the stranglehold between land ownership and development potential
as this barrier could hamper the timely and cost-effective
development of vital new nuclear power
stations.
"The UK needs multiple Government-owned sites
where licences are granted to companies to build
SMR’s.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nuclear-sector-deal
[2] http://www.gmb.org.uk/www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/low-wind-days
