21 May 2025
The UK government is accelerating efforts to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of its clean energy strategy. SMRs promise faster, more flexible nuclear power deployment, but longstanding infrastructure and regulatory hurdles remain. Key challenges include outdated planning frameworks and severe delays—sometimes over a decade—in connecting new plants to the electricity grid. These delays are particularly problematic for SMRs, which rely on rapid deployment and early returns on investment. The Labour government is revising planning rules and expanding grid capacity to support both SMRs and large-scale reactors. Sites like West Burton are being considered for advanced nuclear technologies, including fusion. The reforms aim to fulfill the government’s pledge of delivering “Clean Power” by 2030. However, success hinges on aligning infrastructure development with the pace of SMR deployment, ensuring that new nuclear projects can connect to the grid swiftly and efficiently.
A Nuclear Engineering International article.
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