Extracts from Commons statement on the Energy White Paper - Dec 14
Tuesday, 15 December 2020 07:47
Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con) [V]: I congratulate my right
hon. Friend and his ministerial team on today’s significant
statement. I warmly welcome the commitment shown towards nuclear
energy and the open mind that he shows towards the financing model.
Does he recognise the challenges that the regulated asset base will
give to assessing the risk at the early stage of a traditional
build of nuclear power stations? Will he also show the same
enthusiasm for small modular reactors that...Request free trial
(Vale of
Glamorgan) (Con) [V]: I congratulate my right hon. Friend and his
ministerial team on today’s significant statement. I warmly welcome
the commitment shown towards nuclear energy and the open mind that
he shows towards the financing model. Does he recognise the
challenges that the regulated asset base will give to assessing the
risk at the early stage of a traditional build of nuclear power
stations? Will he also show the same enthusiasm for small modular
reactors that provide an exciting opportunity to parts of the UK
that are looking for significant investment and the job-creating
opportunities that small modular and advanced modular reactors can
bring?
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
(): I very much support the idea that we should be
advancing on SMRs and AMRs, and my right hon. Friend knows that
there is a £385 million advanced nuclear fund to support the
development of SMRs. He will also know that we will be supporting a
consortium led by Rolls-Royce on that. He is right that
that offers not only an opportunity for us to create jobs, but
export opportunities for our country in the future.
(Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC): Diolch yn fawr, Madam
Dirprwy Lefarydd. The White Paper mentions small modular reactors.
When will the Secretary of State be in a position to update the
House regarding the process for locating SMRs, bearing in mind that
the Welsh Government are establishing a development company, Cwmni
Egino, for the former nuclear site at Trawsfynydd?
: Obviously, SMRs in the UK are currently at
the design phase, and the consortium led by Rolls-Royce is making progress.
We think there is the potential for SMR technology to be
operational by the early 2030s, so we are still some way away from
that. I am sure that, over the coming period, I or the Minister for
Business, Energy and Clean Growth will be able to come to the House
and give more information about that.
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