Wales to have mini nuclear power plants .Where in Wales?
A consortium, including Rolls-Royce, plans to build modular nuclear power plants in Wales
Andrew RT Davies AM/AC, the Shadow Minister for Sustainability, has broadly welcomed the recent news about the possible site of the first small modular reactor (SMR) in Wales, and said:
“As Conservatives, we are committed to a cleaner, greener future for Wales, the UK, and the rest of the world, and energy production means that are renewable, efficient, and meet the changing needs of a changing nation.
“If – and it remains undecided at present – Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, where a larger nuclear reactor is being decommissioned, could be the site of the UK's first SMR, then I welcome the decision.”
The energy arm of Rolls-Royce, and other partners in the consortium, wants to build a network of mini-reactors, around a third of the size of current stations, and hopes to ink a deal with the UK government within the next year.
Each would operate for 60 years and would provide 440 megawatts of electricity, according to Rolls-Royce, which is enough to satisfy the electricity needs of Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport combined.
Mr Davies continued:
“SMRs are just part of the energy system, which we Welsh Conservatives will support alongside gas for hydrogen production, fusion energy, as well as increasing our commitment to renewables including tidal energy, all of which are vital if more electric vehicles are going to be on the roads.
“It will help us cut CO2 emissions, and achieve our goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.”
The image, courtesy of Rolls-Royce, shows an architect's impression of a small modular reactor.
