Firms threaten to walk away from SMR programme: “A lot of overseas companies have almost given up on the UK,” warns one technology boss. Companies are threatening to walk away from the UK’s long delayed mini-nuclear plant programme despite yesterday’s announcement of new government funding. Energy minister Richard Harrington announced the government’s long-awaited update on its small modular reactor (SMR) competition.
Utility Week 8th Dec 2017 read more »
The government has announced up to £56m in funding for the development of mini-nuclear plants. The money will be available over the next three years to assess the potential of designs of advanced and small modular reactors (SMRs). It will also support early access to regulators in order to build the capability and capacity needed to assess and licence SMRs and will establish an expert finance group to advise how small reactor projects could raise private investment in the UK. The first round of funding comprises up to £4m for feasibility studies and up to £7m to further develop their capability. Should these efforts prove successful, up to £40m will be made available for R&D projects to bring the technology into the mainstream. The government said it wanted the UK to become a world leader in developing the next generation of nuclear technologies.
Engineering & Technology 8th Dec 2017 read more »
