UK Government Signals Major Expansion of Nuclear Power, Plans New Reactors Across the Country
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says Britain has only begun its push for large-scale and small modular reactors as the government seeks new sites and green-bond status for nuclear finance
The British government has declared that its ambition to expand nuclear power “has only just begun,” as it moves forward with a substantial build-out of both large-scale and small modular reactors (SMRs) to meet rising electricity demand and achieve carbon-reduction goals.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband delivered the message at the Nuclear Industry Association’s Nuclear 2025 conference, where he outlined plans to launch new reactor projects beyond the already committed sites.
Miliband said the combined output from forthcoming projects — including Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and the national SMR programme — will deliver more nuclear capacity than the UK has seen in the last fifty years.
To pave the way, the government has asked the state-owned Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) to begin identifying suitable sites across the UK — including potential locations in Scotland, though any Scottish build remains subject to approval by the devolved government.
Currently eight sites are sanctioned for nuclear development.
The government recently confirmed the former power station site at Wylfa on Anglesey in North Wales will host the UK's first fleet of SMRs, built by Rolls‑Royce SMR; the initial design envisions three reactors capable of producing power by the mid-2030s, with enough long-term potential to accommodate up to eight units.
In a bid to spur investment, the UK has for the first time opened the door for funds raised via green bonds to be directed toward nuclear power — a measure long debated among environmental and financial stakeholders.
If all goes to plan, this renewed nuclear drive could transform the UK’s energy landscape: delivering cleaner, reliable electricity, strengthening energy security, and generating thousands of high-skill jobs — while helping the country meet its climate change commitments.
The government expects to announce its updated nuclear roadmap by the end of 2025, setting out how and when the planned reactors will be delivered and financed.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband delivered the message at the Nuclear Industry Association’s Nuclear 2025 conference, where he outlined plans to launch new reactor projects beyond the already committed sites.
Miliband said the combined output from forthcoming projects — including Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and the national SMR programme — will deliver more nuclear capacity than the UK has seen in the last fifty years.
To pave the way, the government has asked the state-owned Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) to begin identifying suitable sites across the UK — including potential locations in Scotland, though any Scottish build remains subject to approval by the devolved government.
Currently eight sites are sanctioned for nuclear development.
The government recently confirmed the former power station site at Wylfa on Anglesey in North Wales will host the UK's first fleet of SMRs, built by Rolls‑Royce SMR; the initial design envisions three reactors capable of producing power by the mid-2030s, with enough long-term potential to accommodate up to eight units.
In a bid to spur investment, the UK has for the first time opened the door for funds raised via green bonds to be directed toward nuclear power — a measure long debated among environmental and financial stakeholders.
If all goes to plan, this renewed nuclear drive could transform the UK’s energy landscape: delivering cleaner, reliable electricity, strengthening energy security, and generating thousands of high-skill jobs — while helping the country meet its climate change commitments.
The government expects to announce its updated nuclear roadmap by the end of 2025, setting out how and when the planned reactors will be delivered and financed.
