The UK and US have partnered at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan to accelerate advanced nuclear technologies for industry decarbonisation and energy security.
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and US Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk signed an agreement to pool billions of pounds worth of nuclear research and development. The collaboration involves leading academic institutions and nuclear innovators from both countries.
The UK will lead a forum to facilitate information-sharing on advanced nuclear technologies, aiming for industrial use by 2030.
Technologies such as advanced modular reactors offer low-carbon heat and power, aiding decarbonisation in sectors such as aviation fuel, hydrogen and steel production. These reactors are smaller, factory-made and more cost-effective.
The initiative supports the COP28 commitment to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050, with 31 countries, including the UK and US, participating.
The UK is advancing its nuclear reactor programme, Great British Nuclear’s small modular reactor competition, and the Sizewell C project.
The new nuclear developments will create thousands of skilled jobs and enhance energy independence post-2030. The agreement also excludes Russia from the Generation IV International Forum, ensuring collaborations adhere to nuclear safety norms.
Miliband stated: “Nuclear will play a vital role in our clean energy future. That is why we are working closely with our allies to unleash the potential of cutting-edge nuclear technology. Advanced nuclear technology will help decarbonise industry by providing low-carbon heat and power, supporting new jobs and investment here in the UK.”
The agreement will be effective from March 2025.
Laurentis Energy Partners has recently signed an agreement with ORLEN Synthos Green Energy to assist with preliminary work for the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Poland.
The collaboration centres on the preliminary safety analysis report (PSAR), a crucial document for licensing GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s BWRX-300 SMRs in the country.
The PSAR is an extensive study, mandated by Poland’s National Atomic Energy Agency, to demonstrate the safety of the BWRX-300 SMRs.
