Agreements include plan to build 12 reactors in Hartlepool

The UK and US are set to sign a series of nuclear deals as part of US president Donald Trump’s state visit this week.

The government said the proposals will make it quicker for companies to build new nuclear power stations in both countries, for example by speeding up the time it takes for a nuclear project to get a licence from roughly three or four years to roughly two.

The five deals set to be signed

X-Energy and Centrica – plans to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, with a follow-on UK wide programme targeting a fleet of 6GW of nuclear power. According to the companies, the Hartlepool project would generate enough power for up to 1.5 million homes and create up to 2,500 good jobs

Holtec, EDF and Tritax – plans to develop advanced data centres powered by small modular reactors at the former Cottam coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire. Holtec estimate the project value to be around £11bn

Last Energy and DP World – plans to establish one of the world’s first micro modular nuclear power plants, backed by £80m in private investment, to unlock a clean power supply for the expansion of DP World’s London Gateway port and business park

Urenco and Radiant – signs a deal, worth around £4m, to supply advanced HALEU fuel to the US market. Urenco is building an Advanced Fuels Facility in the UK co-funded with the UK Government and is exploring building a similar facility in the US

TerraPower and KBR – plans to conduct studies and evaluate sites in the UK for the deployment of the Natrium advanced reactor technology, with each Natrium reactor supporting around 1,600 construction jobs and 250 permanent jobs

Prime minister Kier Starmer said: “These major commitments set us well on course to a golden age of nuclear that will drive down household bills in the long run, while delivering thousands of good jobs in the short term.”

Rolls-Royce small modular reactor

How Rolls Royce’s plan for a mini-nuclear reactor will look

Over the summer, the government signed the final investment decision on the Sizewell C nuclear power plant with the cost of the scheme set at £38bn, almost double the £20bn previously forecast.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband has agreed a deal with a group of private investors which will see the government take a 44.9% stake in the Suffolk project as the largest equity shareholder.

Firms set to work on the job include Laing O’Rourke, Balfour Beatty and Bouygues.

And last year, Great British Nuclear announced that four firms have been selected for the last round of the UK’s mini-nuclear reactor competition.

GE-Hitachi, Holtec, Rolls Royce and Westinghouse were picked to move to the next stage of the procurement process with Rolls Royce winning the deal in June.

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