Wylfa Back On The Table?

The UK government is actively engaged in discussions with Hitachi regarding the development of a new nuclear power station at Wylfa, located in north Wales.

The Wylfa site, situated on the island of Anglesey (Ynys Môn), has been valued at £200 million. Hitachi owns this site, which has been a subject of uncertainty since 2020 when the Japanese company abandoned its reactor construction plans due to a failure to secure financial support from the government.

Despite challenges faced by existing nuclear projects at Hinkley Point C and Sizewell, the UK government remains committed to expanding nuclear power generation. In January, they unveiled plans for Britain’s largest nuclear power expansion in 70 years, aiming to build a fleet of reactors capable of producing 24 gigawatts of power by 2050.

The Wylfa site, home to the last of the UK’s Magnox nuclear reactors, is considered suitable for either a large reactor or a small modular reactor (SMR). The government hopes that SMRs will simplify nuclear power construction and reduce costs.

To support this ambitious push, companies and institutions in the British nuclear industry are launching a recruitment drive to ensure an adequate workforce. The campaign, called Destination Nuclear, aims to double the number of employees over the next 20 years to sustain the potential quadrupling of output. Currently, there are approximately 64,500 workers across the UK civil nuclear supply chain, with additional personnel in defence-related roles.

The government emphasizes its commitment to cleaner, more secure energy through nuclear power expansion.