Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 59
Advance SMR Final Investment Decisions before 2029 and provide detailed electricity supply timeline.
Recommendation
The Government should take steps to advance the ability for FIDs to be taken before 2029 and provide a detailed timeline of when it expects the winner or winners of GBN’s SMR technology selection process to begin commercially supplying electricity to the UK.
Government Response Summary
The government reiterated GBN's role in delivering two nuclear Final Investment Decisions in the next Parliament and stated it is seeking to deliver the fastest SMR competition, but did not provide a detailed timeline for when SMRs are expected to supply electricity.
Paragraph Reference:
59
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
In March this year, as part of the Powering Up Britain strategy, the government set up GBN. GBN will deliver the government’s long-term nuclear programme, driving forward nuclear projects in the UK. The organisation’s first priority is to administer a competitive process to select the best small modular reactor (SMR) technologies from around the world. This SMR Technology Selection Process (TSP) will underpin government’s commitment to two nuclear Project Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) during the next Parliament. It will support the government’s ambition to deliver up to 24GW of nuclear power in the UK by 2050. The Government recognises the importance of moving quickly to uphold our energy security and net zero ambitions, and is seeking to deliver the fastest competition of its kind in the world.