US-UK Deals and Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation Promote the Golden Age of Nuclear

Coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK, the UK and US have announced a new UK-US “Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy”. 

As part of the new agreement, nuclear regulators and companies from both countries have announced a package of landmark developments in transatlantic nuclear cooperation and strategic alignment, which will chart the course for building ‘the golden age of nuclear’. 

This new phase of transatlantic nuclear cooperation follows a period of record government investment in the civil nuclear sector, and further signifies efforts to create a progressive and commercially attractive UK nuclear market to ensure energy security and achieve Net Zero by 2050.

US-UK Commercial Collaboration

The following commercial deals were unveiled last week: 

• Plans have been announced by TerraPower and KBR to conduct studies and evaluate sites in the UK for the deployment of the Natrium advanced reactor technology. 
• A Joint Development Agreement has been signed between British energy company Centrica and US-based reactor firm X-Energy to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, followed by the UK-wide deployment of a fleet of 6GW of nuclear power. 
• A memorandum of understanding has been entered into by Holtec, EDF and Tritax to power advanced data centres by developing Holtec’s SMR-300 Small Modular Reactor at the former Cottam coal-fired power plant. 
• Backed by £80 million of private investment, Last Energy and DP World have revealed their plans to develop one of the world’s first micro modular nuclear power plants which will power the London Gateway port and business park.
• A letter of intent has been signed by the US microreactor developer NANO Nuclear Energy for the proposed sale of its ODIN design and associated intellectual property to the UK company Cambridge AtomWorks.
• Urenco and Radiant have signed a deal to supply advanced HALEU fuel to the US market.  Co-funded by the UK Government, Urenco is building an Advanced Fuels Facility in the UK and is exploring building a similar facility in the US.

Transatlantic regulatory cooperation 

The UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission have signed a refreshed Memorandum of Understanding, reaffirming the agreement to cooperate closely and exchange technical information previously signed in 2020.

In addition, the Environment Agency and NRC have announced a new collaborative initiative which aims to reduce duplication, share the regulatory load, and fast-track decision-making. 

Last week’s announcements demonstrate a commitment by both countries to fast-track reactor design checks, streamline the licensing process to around 24 months and work hand-in-hand to speed up the delivery of new nuclear in the UK.

Please contact a member of our market leading nuclear team if you have any questions. 

This article was written by Laura Tobin and Henry Connors.