Copeland MP Trudy Harrison has hailed the Government’s new energy strategy as a massive step forward for the nuclear industry.
The Government today published its British Energy Security Strategy, which signifies a significant acceleration of nuclear, with an ambition of up to 24GW by 2050 to come from this safe, clean and reliable source of energy.
Subject to technology readiness from industry, small modular reactors will form a key part of the nuclear project pipeline, the Government said.
Mrs Harrison said: “The new British Energy Security Strategy is a massive step forward for the nuclear industry. It will target more nuclear energy, as well as renewables, in a quest to produce low carbon power for 95 per cent of all our energy needs by 2030.
“I am particularly encouraged by the role for nuclear. A new nuclear delivery body will supercharge delivery and a commitment for up to eight new nuclear reactors by 2030 provides a great opportunity for new nuclear deployment here in Cumbria.”
A new government body, Great British Nuclear, will be set up immediately to bring forward new projects, backed by substantial funding, and the Government will launch the £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund this month.
Mrs Harrison has campaigned for five years for the introduction of SMRs, and to have them located in Copeland.
It was announced in November 2021 that Rolls-Royce SMR will invest £195 million of private funding into the project to develop SMRs, with a further £210 million pledged from the Government.
Last month, Rolls-Royce SMR’s power plant design entered the Generic Design Assessment process with its regulators.
Rebecca Weston, Chief Operating Officer of Sellafield Ltd and Cumbria LEP Board member said: “We’re extremely proud of the nuclear capability, supply chain and skills, built up over decades, that’s part of the backbone of Cumbria’s economy.
“We’ve also a track record in delivering first-of-kind nuclear energy facilities. With the North West home to over 40 per cent of the nuclear workforce nationally, we can propel delivery of future nuclear facilities, whether that’s siting of smaller nuclear reactors or the world’s first nuclear fusion commercial facility.
“The strategy recognises the critical role nuclear can and should play in providing an abundant source of low carbon energy, increasing our resilience. At Sellafield, we’ve demonstrated time and again our ability to deliver innovative nuclear projects at scale.
“With renewed focus on nuclear delivery, Cumbria must be a key target for investment.”
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership
Jo Lappin, Chief Executive of Cumbria LEP, said: “It’s excellent to see nuclear take centre stage in the Government’s strategy when it comes to the UK’s energy future. It’ll provide reliable, sustainable and secure power to our homes and industries for decades to come. We’ve been a strong advocate for a unifying organisation like Great British Nuclear to coordinate future development, so its creation today is a welcome move.
“Cumbria and the North West is uniquely placed to make a low carbon future a reality. We have the skilled workforce and pioneering spirit that established the region as the UK’s centre for nuclear excellence.
“With a key decision on where to locate the STEP nuclear fusion facility to be made this year, Moorside is the clear choice. We were the first for fission, and we’re well-qualified to be the first for fusion. We’re ready to work as a partner to Government and the new Great British Nuclear to deliver on these promising nuclear commitments.”
Copeland Borough Council
Cllr David Moore, Nuclear portfolio holder at Copeland Borough Council, said: “The new strategy commits to the UK’s clean energy future – Cumbria must be a major part of that next nuclear chapter. It’s not just about building on the solid foundations of innovation already established … nuclear investment would be a key levelling up opportunity and a catalyst for closing the productivity gap in our region.
“We’re confident that our joint bid to site the STEP fusion facility at Moorside shows our ability to work in partnership with local, regional and national partners on a compelling nuclear offer.
“Targeting new investment into Cumbria would not only be a vote of confidence in our key role in the UK’s nuclear landscape, but would put in place the building blocks for a future nuclear legacy securing long-term jobs, innovation and economic growth.”
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce
Richard Miller, Business Engagement & Policy Manager at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce said: “The Government’s Energy Strategy is a welcome step in the right direction, which will help meet our net-zero targets and reduce our exposure to volatile global energy markets in the long term.
“Given the expertise and experience here in Cumbria, in terms of nuclear and wind energy and advanced manufacturing more widely, we look forward to playing our role as county in implementing this strategy.
“But there are significant missed opportunities in this plan, which need to be addressed. The first step in any energy security strategy must be to reduce demand, yet this plan fails to bring forward support for energy efficiency measures.
“And clearly, the transition to the cheaper, cleaner energy sources of tomorrow is vital. But prices are soaring today, and businesses need support now. This strategy is a missed opportunity to provide that support. The situation for business is dire, so we, along with other chambers through British Chambers of Commerce, are asking the Government, as a matter of urgency, to introduce a temporary SME Price Cap, expansion of the energy bills rebate scheme to include SMEs and a six-month extension to the Recovery Loan Scheme.
“It’s crucial that government strikes the balance between cost, energy security and net-zero considerations while providing business confidence and support as energy prices soar in the immediate term. While the range of technologies highlighted can provide energy security, those technologies will only deliver meaningful cost reductions in the longer term so immediate action is needed to support business.
“Given the expertise and experience here in Cumbria, in terms of nuclear and wind energy and advanced manufacturing more widely, we look forward to playing our role as a county in implementing this strategy.”
Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster
A statement issued by the organisation said: “Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) welcomes the British Energy Security Strategy issued today (April 7). With clear aims for a spread of energy supply across nuclear, wind, solar and hydrogen supported through the transition to net-zero by a temporary increase in domestic oil and gas the strategy delivers what businesses in energy industry have been asking for-a clear direction and intention from government.
“For some time the triple focus of sustainability in the energy market of net-zero, energy security and energy affordability has been skewed with energy and affordability losing out to net-zero in profile and attention. The impact of that has been brought to the forefront by the tragic events in Ukraine, an area some of our members have colleagues, family and friends in.
“This strategy addresses that imbalance and shows that we can deliver all three equally if we work together with secure national energy supply delivering affordable energy for the UK based on clean energy. The balance where nuclear power provides a baseline of energy provision with an increase in wind, solar and hydrogen is an important one.
“BECBC was born from the nuclear industry supply chain, though we now represent a much wider membership sector base, and the increase in commitment to nuclear power from one a decade to one a year is one the nuclear sector will welcome. For our members, this means increased work which will provide some of the additional jobs referred to in the strategy.
“Additional quality jobs are just one strand of the social value which can be delivered through this strategy helping to support the Government’s levelling up agenda if work is placed in areas where there are high deprivation figures. There are areas of the country, including Cumbria, where the increase in work for the energy sector could deliver change for communities where high deprivation figures have persisted.
“So what does the strategy mean for Cumbria as an area? Our industrial heritage in coastal areas combined with a deep knowledge in the local supply chain of the quality, health and safety and social value requirements of the energy industry which I’ve spoken about previously should mean Cumbria is well placed to help deliver on the strategy but we cannot sit back and wait for investors to come to us.
“That’s why our work alongside MPs, councils and third sector organisations as part of the Invest in Cumbria Alliance is so important. Cumbria needs to have a clear voice at the national table shouting about all that we have to offer and crucially what local communities here are looking for from those investors to support their social license to operate.
“With Sizewell C in Suffolk currently in negotiation and the profile for Wylfa indicating that is likely to be the next site for new nuclear how do we position Cumbria, with Moorside and Fellside as potential sites, as the next one in the rollout? Our industrial coast is power-hungry and having these sites gives us an opportunity to take an area-wide approach such as that described in the Cumbria Nuclear Prospectus but across the wider clean energy sector.
“There is room at Moorside for Small Modular Reactors alongside Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) meaning Cumbria could deliver the first SMR in
the UK, which has a local ready-made customer base in the industry here, while also being at the forefront of first of a kind technology as it has been historically. The area also has a city well placed on the motorway which could welcome an SMR factory providing an SMR arc in the new Cumberland local authority.
“Nuclear regions are working collaboratively through organisations such as the North West Nuclear Arc to ensure the regional voices are heard at a national level and I thank Ruth Sellick, our Deputy Chair, for representing our members in this space. This is a perfect way to support and inform the new Great British Nuclear organisation to ensure the regional capability and experience are part of the planning.
“We need to do more though. We need to work collaboratively across the full energy sector. For too long there has been a gap between green energy and clean energy, now we must work together to deliver on the vision the government has outlined today and the energy supply chain here in Cumbria stands ready to deliver.”
