New deal with industry to secure UK civil nuclear future and drive down cost of energy for customers. An ambitious deal with the nuclear sector to ensure that nuclear energy continues to power the UK for years to come through major innovation, cutting-edge technology and ensuring a diverse and highly-skilled workforce, was announced today (28 June 2018) by the Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark as part of the modern Industrial Strategy.
BEIS 27th June 2018 read more »
The Nuclear Sector Deal builds on the historical partnership between the government and industry that has helped the UK become one of the leading nuclear countries in the world.
BEIS 27th June 2018 read more »
John Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness, is to ask an urgent question in the House of Commons today on the Nuclear Sector Deal. The question is expected at around 10.30am following questions to the Department for International Trade and the Government Equalities Office.
Parliament 28th June 2018 read more »
The Government has launched a £200 million plan aimed at driving down the costs of nuclear energy, develop new technologies and encourage more women to work in the industry. Ministers said a so-called Nuclear Sector Deal would secure the UK’s diverse energy mix and lead to cheaper energy bills. The initiative includes £32 million from Government and industry to kick-start new advanced manufacturing programmes including research and development investment to develop potential world-leading nuclear technologies like Advanced Modular Reactors. The Government also committed to increasing gender diversity in the civil nuclear workforce with a target of 40% women by 2030. Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: “The UK is the home of civil nuclear technology and with this investment in innovation and our commitment to increasing diversity in an already highly skilled workforce, I want to ensure we remain the world leader. Co-chairman of the Nuclear Industry Council, Lord Hutton said: “The industry wants nuclear energy to remain competitive against other forms of low-carbon energy which is why we are committed to working with Government to reduce costs across the sector. “Today’s funding boost will support this common goal, increasing the UK’s industrial capabilities as well as signalling our global leadership in nuclear to the rest of the world.” Measures include a new partnership with the 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 commitment was also made 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.
Energy Voice 28th June 2018 read more »
UK eyes ‘mini nuclear plants’ to help sector survive. The UK is to commit up to £56m to kick-start research and development into small-scale atomic power plants as part of a £200m funding boost. Industry struggling to stay competitive against falling costs of renewables.
FT 27th June 2018 read more »
The U.K. government earmarked 200 million pounds ($262 million) to smooth the way for the next nuclear power plants just two days after rejected the case for an experimental project that would generate power from the tides. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said its Nuclear Sector Deal will fund technology and skills needed to maintain the industry that the government is backing to be part of its future energy mix. About 56 million pounds will go to help eight vendors of modular reactors carry out technical studies. The decision puts further distance between Prime Minister Theresa May’s administration and the possibility of government support for cutting-edge renewable technologies. May’s government has scaled back subsidies for wind and solar, halted onshore wind farms and declined to back Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd.’s proposal for a 1.3 billion pound project to demonstrate its technology.
Bloomberg 27th June 2018 read more »
£200m Nuclear Sector Deal will benefit county, says Cumbria LEP. Strategic economic body welcomes Government deal launch
Carlisle News & Star 28th June 2018 read more »
The nuclear industry has been forced to step in to provide computers at a school because of the failings of the multi-academy trust which runs it, an MP has warned. Conservative MP for Copeland Trudy Harrison also said that teachers and pupils at Whitehaven Academy were forced to work in classrooms of 36C heat because faulty windows had to be nailed shut in the school building.
TES 27th June 2018 read more »
Continuous improvement in reactor designs in the coming years could make nuclear power more cost-effective and help to alleviate public concerns on issues such as safety and waste disposal, International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Yukiya Amano said in his keynote address at the 2018 World Nuclear Exhibition event in Paris, France, today. Mr Amano said advanced water-cooled reactors with innovative safety measures and small modular reactors could play a key role in the replacement and expansion of the global nuclear fleet. He said it was essential that robust levels of nuclear safety consistent with IAEA safety standards should be in place at every nuclear power plant.
Nucnet 27th June 2018 read more »
