Hundreds of billions clean up project for ‘old nuclear’ - is new nuclear going to be better?
The Government considers ramping up nuclear energy an essential part of the mix to achieve the UK’s ambitions for clean power, and there is possibly a bigger mandate for nuclear power in the UK now than at any time since just after World War II.
But how ‘clean’ is it really?
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority manages the legacy of early nuclear power in the UK and the associated waste and spent fuels. The NDA is biggest budget item on the DESNZ accounts, and Sellafield is the biggest item on the NDA accounts.
Decommissioning Sellafield power plant is a century-long project, not expected to complete until 2125 and already predicted to cost coming generations of taxpayers over £130bn - though that estimate has increased by more than £20bn just since 2019.
Meeting details
How likely is that project to be delivered even to those vast costs and timescale; can it be done any faster, or cheaper? What regard does the NDA have to local communities as it deals with nuclear waste?
Can newer nuclear technologies like Small Modular Reactors offer an energy solution without these incredible clean-up costs? Will they produce significantly less waste per kWh, be cleaner and cost less overall? What role is the NDA playing in conversations about developing SMRs?
The Committee will question the CEOs of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Nuclear Waste Services and Sellafield Ltd on the past, present and future of nuclear energy in the UK.