EDF developing nuclear technology in Gloucester with Rolls-Royce

THE next generation of nuclear energy could be developed in Barnwood after the Government provided more than £1.3 million to EDF Energy.

The Government has given EDF, in Barnwood, Gloucester, £1,373,095 to help develop new ways of manufacturing advanced nuclear parts for modular reactors.

It is part of a Government move to provide £40million of funding to unlock thousands of green jobs by developing the next generation of nuclear energy technology.

An EDF spokesperson said: “Nuclear engineers at EDF’s technical HQ near Gloucester have been working on a project to adapt learning from decades of operating the current UK fleet of nuclear reactors to establish best practice on demonstrating the safety of the next generation of UK nuclear reactors.

“This investment from

BEIS [Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy] will help fund our ongoing collaboration with Rolls-Royce and the National Nuclear Laboratory, and help us to develop guidance to deliver safe, cost effective nuclear energy, and also help Britain towards achieving net zero.”

The Government says that the investment would help to ‘turbocharge’ the industry and create up to 200 jobs nationwide. It also says that the funding will develop technologies to supply low-carbon heat, hydrogen, and other clean energy for decades to come.

Building new, low-carbon industry will support the UK’s clean economic recovery as we move towards net zero emissions by 2050, according to the Government.

Nadhim Zahawi, the Minister for Business and Industry, said:

“Advanced modular reactors are the next step in nuclear energy and have the potential to be a crucial part of tackling carbon emissions and climate change.

“Today’s investment will immediately create new jobs in Oxfordshire, Cheshire and Lancashire. But through this vital research, the technology could also create thousands more green collar jobs for decades to come.”