Mini-nuclear reactors to boost Hartlepool

HARTLEPOOL could host a fleet of mini-nuclear reactors within a decade after the Government awarded a multimillion-pound grant to engineering group Babcock to explore the project’s feasibility.

X-energy and Cavendish Nuclear, which is owned by FTSE 250 group Babcock, have won funding from the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund to progress plans to build new mini nuclear reactors in Teesside.

The companies are developing advanced nuclear power plants known as small modular reactors (SMRS). The hope is that these mini-nukes could be partly built in factories and constructed in large numbers of locations, providing cheaper green energy than larger nuclear sites. X-energy and Cavendish Nuclear want to build a 12-reactor nuclear plant in the North East.

Mick Gornall, managing director of Cavendish Nuclear, said the goal is to develop “a fleet” of such reactors, which the company calls Xe-100s.

He said: “A fleet of Xe-100s can complement renewables by providing constant or flexible power and produce steam to decarbonise industry and manufacture hydrogen and synthetic transport fuels. Deployment in the UK will create thousands of high-quality, long-term jobs across the country.”

The Government has awarded the companies £3.34m to explore the plans, with X-energy investing the same amount. Britain’s plans to renew its nuclear industry have so far been blighted by cost overruns and planning delays.

Hinkley Point C, in Somerset, is to cost as much as £35bn, which is £10bn more than previous estimates, and will be delivered four years later than planned. In February, Rolls-royce threatened to put its first mini reactors in Europe instead of the UK over delays in Government decision making.