Strategic plan needed to deliver nuclear power and close the power gap

Will Davis, Chair of the IET Nuclear Committee, said: “This report is welcomed and combines a comprehensive analysis of the current UK Government nuclear power strategy - with specific recommendations for the actions needed to ensure that the objective of 24GW nuclear will be achieved by 2050. 

The time for strategies is past - as the report says throughout, the need now is for detailed plans to which Government, industry, regulators, academia and, most important of all, investors agree to work together.

“To achieve any future new nuclear capacity safely, to budget and to schedule requires realistic plans, and robust leadership, giving people confidence in the commitment from Government. The cold hard reality of delivering new nuclear plants on a decadal timeframe requires detailed planning and commitments on which industry can depend.

“There are many reasons why our industry needs this clarity – not only to unlock funding but also to provide market signals to address other barriers, such as supply chain capacity and the underlying skills shortage in the nuclear sector - we need many more skilled engineers and technicians from all disciplines, and other sectors, to deliver the strategy, so the establishment of the Nuclear Skills Task Force, as well GB Nuclear is key.

“Transforming the energy system – including nuclear – so that it is fit for purpose in delivering net zero targets, requires an overall strategic plan for the whole energy sector, including attention to cross-cutting issues such as planning and permitting, and the creation of the right governance to ensure we can balance the challenges of costs of energy, resilience and climate change.

“The IET, as the largest multi-disciplinary professional engineering institution in the UK is in a good position to assist GB Nuclear and the Nuclear Skills Task Force to achieve this.” 

Ends

Notes to Editors

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