Civil engineering insights into the UK’s nuclear new-build programme

The ICE’s latest insights paper explores the potential costs and benefits of the UK’s proposed nuclear new-build programme.

Alongside an analysis of alternatives, it draws on lessons from existing nuclear projects.

The paper has been developed through discussions with ICE Fellows, senior sector stakeholders and available published evidence.

It highlights the need for the new government to implement policies and measures that will address concerns about:

• energy security;
• affordability of costs to consumers; and
• the need to support naturally-available sources of energy (i.e. wind and solar) to ensure that emission targets are met.

The creation of Great British Energy and its collaboration with the Crown Estate is a positive step towards leveraging private investment towards the UK’s drive for energy independence.

Main findings

A growing population, economic uncertainty and the need to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 will place heavy demands on the UK’s energy sector in the coming decades.

Electricity use is more than likely to double due to:

• the increased focus on energy security;
• Russia’s war in Ukraine and the resulting rise in energy prices;
• increased cost of living;
• electrification of heat and transport; and
• the growth of digital technologies.

Since the rise in global prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, an additional consideration of ‘long-term security of cost’ has emerged. Essentially, consumers need a more stable energy market.

Future-proofing energy supply

To ensure the UK electricity system is robust in the future, it’s likely to need more sources of energy and ensure that emissions targets are met.

The new Labour government aims to double onshore wind, triple solar power and quadruple offshore wind by 2030.

It has already taken steps to speed up the clean energy transition, including:

• banning new licences for North Sea oil and gas drilling;
• greenlighting three major solar power projects in the East of England; and
• ending an effective ban on onshore windfarms.

Electricity generation will become even more important in future as energy use across other infrastructure sectors evolves.

Furthermore, as digital technologies, which rely on electricity, are widely embedded in the design of infrastructure assets and networks, demand will increase.

The importance of a diverse energy mix

The diversity of the energy generation mix cannot be over-emphasised.

Renewable energy must be invested in, but it must be supported by other energy sources, including nuclear, rather than acting as the only source.

As many renewable technologies become ever more affordable, policymakers need to examine what place new nuclear has, and how it should be supported.

More private investment will be needed to prioritise new nuclear energy in the future and ensure it’s part of the mix provided by the current government.

It’s the ICE’s view that all forms of low-carbon energy production will have a role to play – from nuclear to wind, solar to tidal, hydropower to hydrogen and all forms of energy storage, short- and long-term.