Asked by: Sarah Jones (Labour - Croydon Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department made of the adequacy of proposals from Solway Community Power Company for the development of small modular reactors at Moorside; how much land is required for that proposed development; and how many meetings have taken place between the Department and that company.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has had multiple engagements with Community Power Limited but has not at present made any assessment on their proposal. The Government launched the Alternative Routes to Market for New Nuclear Projects consultation on the 11th January 2024. This consultation explores what steps Government can take to enable different routes to market for Advanced Nuclear Technologies (ANTs) and how Government can support the private sector to bring forward new nuclear projects. In the case of Moorside, it would be natural for the site’s location adjacent to Sellafield to be factored into any decision.
Asked by: Sarah Jones (Labour - Croydon Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment her Department has made of the viability of Moorside as a nuclear development site; and whether her Department has had recent discussions with Sellafield Ltd on the land requirements for developing that site.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Moorside is a candidate for new nuclear and one of a number of potential sites that could host civil nuclear projects. Whilst Great British Nuclear is working with the Government to support access to potential sites, no decisions have been made at present. In the case of Moorside, it would be natural for the site’s location adjacent to Sellafield to be factored into any decision.
Asked by: Sarah Jones (Labour - Croydon Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the decision-making process is for the potential release of land by the Nuclear Development Authority for nuclear development sites at Moorside.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Moorside is a candidate for new nuclear and one of a number of potential sites that could host civil nuclear projects. Whilst Great British Nuclear is working with the Government to support access to potential sites, no decisions have been made at present. In the case of Moorside, it would be natural for the site’s location adjacent to Sellafield to be factored into any decision.
Asked by: Sarah Jones (Labour - Croydon Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has had recent discussions with (a) Sellafield Ltd and (b) the Nuclear Development Authority on its plans for nuclear power developments at Moorside.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Moorside is a candidate for new nuclear and one of a number of potential sites that could host civil nuclear projects. Whilst Great British Nuclear is working with government to support access to potential sites, no decisions have been made at present. In the case of Moorside, it would be natural for the site’s location adjacent to Sellafield to be factored into any decision.
Asked by: Sarah Jones (Labour - Croydon Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the extent of regulatory support for potential nuclear power developments at Moorside.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There is currently no project at Moorside, but any new developer will need to meet the requirements of our independent regulators. The Government’s Nuclear Roadmap has set out plans to streamline future nuclear development to make Britian the best place in the world to invest in nuclear. We believe the existing EN-6 sites, such as Moorside, are likely to retain inherent positive attributes that make them suitable for consideration for development.
Asked by: Sarah Jones (Labour - Croydon Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many developers have expressed an interest in the development of new nuclear power at Moorside since its selection as a site for new nuclear power generation in 2009.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Moorside is a candidate for new nuclear and one of a number of potential sites that could host civil nuclear projects. The specific number of enquiries is currently not known, since the NDA, as owners of the Moorside site and other land, continue to engage any new nuclear vendor who has enquiries about their land.