Part of the Government’s “Golden Age” of nuclear has been fired-up with the publishing of a framework to stimulate private investment in innovative nuclear technologies across the country, providing a clear route to market and support for credible projects to get them off the ground.

Recently announced deals include plans for X-Energy (backed by Jeff Bezos) and Centrica to build 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool as well as plans for Holtec, EDF, and Tritax to build small modular reactors (SMR) at the former coal-fired power station Cottam in Nottinghamshire. Meanwhile TerraPower (backed by Bill Gates) is working with engineering firm KBR to explore the potential deployment of its Natrium advanced reactor technology in the UK and beyond.

To speed up deployment of advanced nuclear and attract private investment, the Government is launching a pipeline of “credible” projects and a “concierge-style” service to help developers understand requirements around UK planning, regulation and fuel, as well as enabling them to crowd-in private investment.

Developers can use the Advanced Nuclear Framework to submit proposals to join the pipeline from March this year, which will then be assessed by experts in government and Great British Energy-Nuclear according to key criteria such as technology status, developer capability, and financing plans.

Projects selected could also benefit from “revenue support” that could be partially funded by taxpayers and be eligible for loans and equity investments from the National Wealth Fund.

Quite where all this leaves industry leader Rolls-Royce is conspicuous by an absence of detail. The RR SMR has been selected as the preferred bidder by Great British Energy to build the UK’s first SMRs, and by European utility ČEZ to build up to 3GW of new nuclear power in the Czech Republic and is one of only two companies to reach the final stage in Vattenfall’s process to identify Sweden’s nuclear technology partner.

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