Wylfa in Anglesey is the government's preferred site for the UK's
third mega-nuclear power station - putting North Wales in prime
position to benefit from a boost to its economic prosperity and
support the UK's long-term energy security.
The government is kickstarting talks with global energy firms to
explore building the new power plant, which could provide enough
clean, reliable and cheap power for 6 million homes for 60 years.
It brings the UK closer to its target for a quarter of
electricity to come from homegrown nuclear power by 2050 to
strengthen the nation's energy independence.
The government is exploring building a major nuclear power
station, similar in scale to Hinkley in Somerset and Sizewell in
Suffolk. This new project would revive the nuclear history of
Wylfa and bring thousands of jobs and investment to the area,
boosting the local economy.
Wylfa, sitting on the North Wales coast, is ideally-suited to
host one given its proximity to cooling water and nuclear
heritage.
Great British Nuclear - tasked with delivering the world's
fastest small modular reactor competition - recently secured
Wylfa and Oldbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire as two possible
sites for new nuclear projects. It was the first time the
government acquired land for new nuclear since the 1960s.
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Claire
Coutinho, said:
We are powering ahead with the biggest expansion of nuclear
energy in seventy years.
Anglesey has a proud nuclear history and it is only right that,
once again, it can play a central role in boosting the UK's
energy security.
Wylfa would not only bring clean, reliable power to millions of
homes – it could create thousands of well-paid jobs and bring
investment to the local area.
The UK is delivering the biggest expansion to nuclear power in 70
years and suitable sites will be critical to meet ambitions to
quadruple nuclear capacity by up to 24GW by 2050. This will come
from a mix of traditional large-scale power plants and small
modular reactors, which can be rolled out more quickly and at
scale.
Meanwhile Great British Nuclear aims to announce successful
bidders for the small modular reactor competition by the end of
this year.
Gwen Parry-Jones CEO of Great British Nuclear said:
Having agreed to purchase the Wylfa site earlier this year, GBN
looks forward to working with the Government on the market
engagement programme for large scale gigawatt providers and also
delivering this vital project in the years to come.
Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies said:
This is significant and welcome news for Wales that promises to
bring thousands of high-quality jobs to the local economy.
Alongside the revival of nuclear power at Wylfa, recent measures
we have announced include a Freeport for Anglesey, £17m in
Levelling Up money for Holyhead and electrification of the North
Wales rail line which show that the UK Government continues to
deliver for Anglesey and for North Wales.
Sue Ferns Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect union said:
Wylfa represents the best site in Europe for a large-scale
nuclear power station. With this announcement this has now been
recognised by the UK government.
Gigawatt scale new nuclear power stations are vital to hitting
net zero and for our energy security. But they also maintain well
paid and highly skilled jobs, meaning this project would be a
major boost to the Welsh economy.
Now we need a laser-like focus on delivery of new nuclear to make
sure skills and experience are not lost, and costs are reduced as
we progress.
Chief Executive of the NIA said:
The Government is absolutely right to pursue more large-scale
nuclear alongside the SMR programme: it is proven technology that
delivers clean, sovereign power and can transform communities
with thousands of high quality, long term jobs and
apprenticeships. Wylfa is an ideal place for a big nuclear
project, and the community knows nuclear.
We welcome the Government's engagement with potential partners
internationally, and we urge them to move forward at pace. A
large-scale project at Wylfa would be the single biggest inward
investment in Welsh history, and a huge step towards both energy
security and net zero for the whole country.
