A Nuclear Future for Britain

The UK has long prided itself on leading the world in renewable energy growth and innovation. We have made bold goals towards cutting carbon emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels. So far, we have focused mainly on two sources of alternative sources of energy: offshore wind and solar power. However, there is another option for renewable that may offer us an affordable and sustainable path to a clean energy future: nuclear energy. Despite the recent surge in public support for nuclear power, we failed to see a materialization of new nuclear projects or large scale government support for nuclear initiatives as we have had for solar or wind. Compared to European neighbor France who derives nearly 75% of their energy from nuclear sources, our nuclear reactors only account for 19% of our total energy, and with half of all reactors responsible for that generation is set to retire by 2025. It is clear if we want to keep that figure or even grow it, more support for nuclear power is needed in Westminster.

The expansion of nuclear power in the country could have widespread impacts on the country and help us reach our objective of reaching net-zero emissions. A report published by the Nuclear Industry Association shows that a new generation of more efficient nuclear plants could deliver power starting at 60 pounds per megawatt-hour and even further go down to 40 pounds, a reduction in prices by nearly half. This would put nuclear power on par with the cheapest price estimates for wind and solar energy in the nation. Such cost-saving moves would help the UK ease off our oil and gas sectors and shift to a cleaner world. Clearly nuclear power has the potential to advance clean energy but it cannot be done alone. The government needs to make a commitment to nuclear power and work with companies and contractors to ease the burden of project guidelines and help the entire industry navigate government approval processes and get permits.

Currently, most nuclear plants in the UK use gas-cooled reactors or AGR but there are more efficient and newer nuclear technologies that can be adopted. The advent of more advanced tech has the potential to outpace solar and wind to generate cheap and clean energy. In recent a session of Minister's Questions my government counter-part when asked about subject of nuclear power expressed support and even reveal there were some discussions in cabinet of building a nuclear power plant at the site of the Wylfa Nuclear Power Station. This news came as a welcome surprise and I am glad to see that this government realizes the importance of nuclear energy for Britain's future. Given their enthusiasm about the promise of nuclear power, I hope that they will lend their support for my coming motion on it.

As the LPUK Spokesperson for Energy and Environmental Affairs I have introduced a motion in support of nuclear energy and calling for the government to draft plans in coordination with the industry with replacing the retrying half of the UK’s nuclear sectors potential for expanding our nuclear power base. It is my belief that such a move will help the UK fast-track our goal of lowering emissions and allow cheaper clean energy to reach millions of British households.