The UK Government has announced it intends to approve more sites for nuclear energy developments across England and Wales, seeking to attract private investment into SMRs.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office has said the list of possible sites for nuclear development will be expanded and the planning process will be streamlined. Attracting private capital is central to the plan.
There are currently eight sites approved for nuclear development. The new plan would encourage developers to propose other sites and promises flexibility that could see SMRs co-located with power hungry data centres.
Four companies ( Rolls-Royce , Westinghouse , Holtec Britain , and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy ) are still involved in developing SMRs in the UK.