In a significant development for the UK's nuclear energy landscape, X-Energy UK Holdings, Ltd (X-energy) and Cavendish Nuclear, both subsidiaries of leading entities in the field, have secured a substantial funding award from the UK Government’s Future Nuclear Enabling Fund (FNEF). This funding injection is poised to propel the advancement of their plans for Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) within the UK.
The Government's allocation of £3.34 million, complemented by an equivalent contribution from X-energy, totalling £6.68 million, will be directed towards furthering the development of AMRs in the UK. This financial boost will be channelled into crafting bespoke deployment strategies tailored to the UK market, encompassing assessments of local manufacturing capabilities, supply chain dynamics, modularisation studies, and fuel management strategies.
An integral aspect of this initiative is the collaboration with Kier Group (Kier), a renowned provider of construction and infrastructure services in the UK. This partnership aims to fortify the project's constructability and supply chain analyses. Kier joins esteemed counterparts such as Sheffield Forgemasters and the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) in bolstering X-energy and Cavendish Nuclear's endeavours, underscoring the shared commitment to maximising the involvement of UK firms. Efforts are underway to ensure that 80% of the value generated from the Xe-100 projects circulates within the UK economy.
“We are backing innovation in nuclear – from building large-scale plants better to encouraging new advanced technologies – to achieve our ambition for a quarter of our electricity to come from nuclear power by 2050,” Minister for Nuclear & Renewables Andrew Bowie said. “This funding supports the next step in the development of advanced modular reactors and shows our commitment to keeping the UK at the forefront of nuclear technology.”
Carol Tansley, X-energy’s UK market leader and Vice President of Projects said,
We are delighted to receive this FNEF award from the Government. It reflects the readiness of our advanced technology to contribute to the UK’s energy needs in the next wave of new nuclear. Building on X-energy’s initial deployment with Dow on the U.S. Gulf Coast, we can create both jobs and long-term energy security in the UK with clean, reliable advanced nuclear power.
Mick Gornall, Managing Director of Cavendish Nuclear also commented:
As X-energy’s UK deployment partner we’re pleased to welcome this award as a key step forward. 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 FNEF, designed to support nuclear projects boasting mature technologies and poised for imminent investment decisions, signifies a pivotal step towards mitigating project risks and fostering investor confidence within the industry.
Looking ahead, X-energy and Cavendish Nuclear are poised to spearhead a multi-billion-pound endeavour, envisaging the establishment of a 12-reactor plant at Hartlepool by the early 2030s. This ambitious undertaking aims to establish a fleet of up to 40 advanced small modular Xe-100 reactors across the UK, promising to generate thousands of high-quality jobs while delivering a substantial portion of the nation's electricity needs.
With plans underway to engage with UK nuclear regulators to evaluate licensing approaches for the Xe-100 AMR, X-energy and Cavendish Nuclear are poised to chart new frontiers in nuclear innovation, further solidifying the UK's position as a trailblazer in nuclear technology advancement.
Source: www.babcockinternational.com “UK Government selects X-energy and Cavendish Nuclear for First Advanced Modular Reactor Award from Future Nuclear Enabling Fund” Babcock News.
