U.K. Announces Plan to Streamline Nuclear Regulations

The U.K. government on Feb. 6 announced plans to revise existing nuclear planning regulations to reduce red tape and accelerate the approval and construction of nuclear reactors. The changes will support the development of smaller nuclear reactors and allow more flexible siting for projects. A more efficient, timely approval process will allow nuclear developers in the U.K. to cut down costs and project delays.

The U.K.’s stringent nuclear regulations have held back the growth of the nuclear power industry with the country having just one plant – Hinkley Point C nuclear plant – under construction in Somerset. The government’s new nuclear planning regulations will include mini-nuclear power stations, which include small modular reactors and advanced nuclear reactors, which often have lower capital costs and faster development. The smaller stations would allow more flexibility with regard to reactor design and allow options such as co-location for energy-intensive data centers.

The rules will also eliminate a set list of eight sites that limit the location of nuclear plants, so that developers can now construct anywhere in England and Wales. Developers will be encouraged to bring forward sites at the earliest at the pre-application stage in the planning process, accelerating overall timelines. Additionally, the revised regulations will consolidate existing processes and streamline the approval to avoid duplications, contradictions and redundant steps. For example, during the development of Hinkley Point C, three European regulators produced different and contradicting assessments of the reactor design. Hence, the new rules will aim to improve co-ordination in international projects and simplify assessment.

Nuclear power is increasingly recognized as a reliable and clean energy source worldwide. The U.S. has recently taken aggressive measures to expand nuclear power, unveiling a nuclear roadmap to triple current nuclear capacity by 2050. The U.S. Energy Department has made commitments worth billions of dollars to fund the research and development of advanced nuclear reactors, small modular reactors, and the recommissioning of abandoned nuclear plants.