Nuclear power is a crucial component in the UK's strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, reinforcing global targets to minimise economic and social effects of climate change.

There is an urgent imperative to decarbonise electricity generation and the UK government has committed to expanding nuclear capacity, aiming for up to 24 GW by 2050, which could cover a quarter of the country's electricity demand. 

Nuclear power is a reliable, low-carbon source of electricity that can complement the variability of renewable energy sources(1). It can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, decreasing the environmental impact associated with their extraction and combustion. 

The Labour government is pursuing a strategy to expand nuclear power as part of its broader plan to achieve energy independence and reach net zero emissions by 2050. This includes extending the lifespan of existing nuclear plants, securing the future of Hinkley Point C, and investing in new nuclear power stations, including Sizewell C and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)(2). 

A key component of this strategy is the creation of Great British Energy-Nuclear, a public body designed to drive investment and deployment of new nuclear capacity, as part of a wider energy strategy. 

Ahead of the 2025 spending review, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £14.2bn investment in the planned Sizewell C new nuclear power plant in Suffolk(3). The plant is being jointly developed by the UK government with French state-owned utility firm EDF Energy, which is building the Hinkley C plant in Somerset.

Each new plant will have a capacity of 3.2 gigawatts (GW), enough to power six million homes. During its construction, Sizewell C will provide 10,000 jobs, including 1,500 apprenticeships, according to the government. 

Energy secretary Ed Miliband advised that new nuclear was needed for energy security, lower bills and to help cut emissions. He said: “We need new nuclear to deliver a golden age of clean-energy abundance, because that is the only way to protect family finances, take back control of our energy, and tackle the climate crisis. This is the government’s clean energy mission in action- investing in lower bills and good jobs for energy security.”(3)

How it works

Nuclear power plants generate electricity through nuclear fission, where the splitting of uranium atoms, typically uranium-235, releases heat used to produce steam. This steam then drives turbines connected to generators, producing electricity. Key benefits include low-carbon electricity generation, high reliability, and high energy density of nuclear fuel(4).

Nuclear power plants don't produce greenhouse gases during electricity generation, making them a crucial part of reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. They can operate 24/7, regardless of weather conditions, unlike some renewable energy sources. Nuclear fuel also has a high energy density, so a small amount can generate a great quantities of electricity, reducing need for large-scale fuel storage. 

The government sees nuclear power as crucial for achieving energy security as well as meeting net zero targets. As part of government’s Plan for Change to make the UK a clean energy superpower, it estimate that fission energy will contribute a significant portion of the UK's electricity generation.

As part of the strategy, in June (2025) it selected Rolls-Royce as the preferred bidder to build and make operational the country’s first Small Modular Reactor by the mid-2030s5, after rigorous 2-year competition to select nuclear technology for UK deployment, building clean power through a publicly-owned company. The  project could support up to 3,000 jobs at peak construction and power the equivalent of around 3 million of homes.

SMRs are smaller and quicker to build than traditional nuclear plants and it is hoped that costs will come down as units are rolled out. Private finance is seen as an essential element in the ambition to create one of Europe’s first SMR fleets. The government has announced plans to shake up planning rules to make it easier to build nuclear, including small modular reactors across the country.(5)

Challenges and concerns

SaveMoneyCutCarbon advises that While nuclear energy is a provider of ‘clean’ power, power plants generate three main types of radioactive waste as a by-product. Low-level waste includes contaminated items like tools and clothing; intermediate-level radioactive waste has higher radioactivity and requires shielding during handling and storage due to its higher radioactivity.

High-level waste primarily consists of spent nuclear fuel, which needs careful handling and storage. It remains radioactive for extremely long periods, potentially thousands to millions of years, due to the presence of long-lived radioactive isotopes. Nuclear reactors also produce radioactive gases such as krypton-85 and xenon-133, as well as tritium(6). 

Since the 1950s, a stockpile of 250,000 tonnes of highly radioactive nuclear waste has been accumulated and distributed across the world.(7) The UK also has existing nuclear power plants that will need to be decommissioned, which is a significant undertaking. 

There is a long-standing fear of nuclear power, driven in part by the association with atomic and hydrogen bombs, as well as rare accidents, such as in 2011 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The UK's nuclear industry has been operating for over five decades, with a safety record that is considered very good compared to other industries.(8)

The same technology used to make nuclear fuel for power plants can also be used to produce explosive material for nuclear weapons and its proliferation, a debate triggered by the atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War, has recently been reignited following rising concerns over nuclear escalation in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Another concern is that nuclear power is one of the most expensive and time-consuming forms of energy generation. Nuclear plants cost billions of pounds and can more than a decade to construct, much longer than any other infrastructure for renewable energy. But after commissioning, they are relatively cheap to run(9).

Nuclear power leaders

Nuclear power is most used in the United States, followed by China and France. The US is the world's largest producer of nuclear power, generating about 30% of global nuclear electricity. China and France are also significant users of nuclear energy, ranking second and third respectively. 

The US generated 779,186 GWh of nuclear electricity in 2023, about 19% of the country's total electricity production(1)0. United Kingdom ranks 11th in the world in terms of nuclear power generation with around 37,278 GWh annually(11).

Nuclear power can work effectively with renewable energy sources to create a more reliable and sustainable energy system. While nuclear energy is not renewable, it can complement renewable sources like solar and wind by providing a consistent, baseload power supply that can be adjusted to meet fluctuating demand. Nuclear power plants can act as a backup for intermittent renewable sources, helping to maintain grid stability and prevent power outages(12). 

Nuclear as part of the renewables future

Nuclear power and renewables can work together to create a more sustainable and reliable energy future. Nuclear power can provide a crucial baseload power supply while renewables can offer clean energy when the sun shines and the wind blows, playing a significant role in transitioning to a low-carbon energy future. 

Bibliography

1 ‘The role of nuclear in the UK’s energy supply’ (Accessed July 2025) https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/the-role-of-nuclear-in-the-uks-energy-supply/

2 ‘Biggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years to create jobs, reduce bills and strengthen Britain’s energy security’ (Accessed July 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/biggest-expansion-of-nuclear-power-for-70-years-to-create-jobs-reduce-bills-and-strengthen-britains-energy-security

3 ‘Thousands of jobs to be created as government announces multi-billion-pound investment to build Sizewell C’ (Accessed July 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-of-jobs-to-be-created-as-government-announces-multi-billion-pound-investment-to-build-sizewell-c

4 ‘Nuclear energy: What you need to know’ (Accessed July 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nuclear-energy-what-you-need-to-know

5 ‘Rolls-Royce SMR selected to build small modular nuclear reactors’ (Accessed July 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rolls-royce-smr-selected-to-build-small-modular-nuclear-reactors

6 ‘What are the main waste categories?’ (Accessed July 2025) https://ukinventory.nda.gov.uk/information-hub/factsheets/what-are-the-main-waste-categories/

7 ‘Storage of nuclear waste a 'global crisis': report’ (Accessed July 2025) https://phys.org/news/2019-01-storage-nuclear-global-crisis.html

8 ‘Nuclear power and energy generation’ (Accessed July 2025) https://www.ice.org.uk/areas-of-interest/energy/nuclear-power-and-energy-generation

9 ‘Economics of Nuclear Power’ (Accessed July 2025) https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/economic-aspects/economics-of-nuclear-power

10 ‘Nuclear Power in the USA’ (Accessed July 2025) https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/usa-nuclear-power

11 ‘Top 15 Nuclear Generating Countries’ (Accessed July 2025) https://www.nei.org/resources/statistics/top-15-nuclear-generating-countries

12 ‘3 Ways Nuclear is More Flexible Than You Might Think’ (Accessed July 2025) https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/3-ways-nuclear-more-flexible-you-might-think