The UK nuclear sector risks falling behind unless sustainability becomes central to investment, delivery and public trust, according to a report by the Next Generation Nuclear Industry Council (NGNIC).
The expansion of Britain’s nuclear energy capabilities are considered to be a key part of the long-term decarbonisation of the UK’s energy grid. Last year energy secretary Ed Miliband said the government aims to kickstart the “golden age” of nuclear energy.
Amid this increased government investment and Rolls‑Royce SMR’s recent deal to deliver the UK’s first three small modular reactors (SMRs) at Wylfa, the NGNIC argues that sustainability should be seen as an opportunity, not as an additional burden.
Its report – Sustainability in the nuclear sector – sets out how the industry can strengthen its contribution to environmental, social and economic sustainability as the sector enters a new era of growth and investment.
It argues that sustainability must become a strategic enabler for the nuclear...