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 potential impact of Great British Nuclear on the Government’s domestic nuclear energy targets.

The British Energy Security Strategy set out our ambition for deploying up to 24 gigawatts of civil nuclear by 2050, around 25% of our projected 2050 electricity demand. We launched Great British Nuclear (GBN) to help deliver new nuclear projects.

GBN is currently conducting a Technology Selection Process to select the best Small Modular Reactor technologies for the UK to facilitate the Government’s ambition to take two Final Investment Decisions next parliament.

Chosen SMR technologies will be offered an unprecedented level of support and funding to support technology development and site-specific design, as well as a close partnership with GBN, which will be ready and able to provide developer capability and support in accessing sites.

GBN will also support the Government’s consideration of further large Gigawatt-scale projects to help us deliver on our net zero ambitions.