In 1997, 26 per cent of British electricity was generated through nuclear power. Since then, a number of power stations have been closed across the nation leading the proportion of nuclear power to decline to 16.1 per cent, and the remaining reactors are coming towards the end of their lifespan. Decades of empty promises by the government have led to stagnation in the building of power plants, but Keir Starmer’s recent announcement on plans to construct mini nuclear power stations in England and Wales look to be part of an attempt to make Britain a “world leader on nuclear”.
The world’s first civil nuclear program opened in 1956, at Calder Hall, Cumbria. The British government would fully control all nuclear development through the UK Atomic Energy Authority, despite failed attempts at privatization by the Thatcher government in the 80s. In 2003, the Energy White Paper concluded that the UK would focus on renewables and energy efficiency, citing the high cost of nuclear, but in 2006 it reversed its stance. The 2008 Nuclear White Paper essentially gave the go-ahead for the construction of new nuclear power stations, but as of yet Sizewell B, opened in 1995, is still the most recent nuclear power plant in Britain.
However, nuclear power is beginning to be considered essential for a net-zero future. Keir Starmer has made it clear he believes the roadblocks which have made it nearly impossible to construct nuclear power plants in the UK have hindered the development of the energy sector. Additionally, he claims it is essential to avoid being “held hostage” by Putin, which has resulted in energy prices “skyrocketing at his whims”.
However, Doug Parr, policy director of Greenpeace UK, claimed the government had not applied “so much as a pinch of critical scrutiny or asking for a sprinkling of evidence”, claiming “The Labour government has swallowed [the] nuclear industry spin whole”. These comments stem from the issue that, although a comparable cost of running to other forms of electricity, nuclear power plants are exceedingly costly to build. Additionally, issues regarding safety and the environmental impact of nuclear waste have seen strong push back from some members of the public and organizations, including Greenpeace UK, and figures from within the Green Party.
The question remains, however, will Starmer actually be able to go through with his promises unlike previous PMs? The new government committed a further £2.7 billion to the project in October, and with two reactors set to open in Somerset in 2030, will the future of UK energy be nuclear?
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