– UK Government awards £3.34m to X-Energy and Cavendish Nuclear for advanced modular reactors
– X-Energy will match the government’s investment
– Collaboration aims to establish a 12-reactor plant in Hartlepool by early 2030s, with plans for 40 small modular reactors across the UK.
The UK Government has awarded X-Energy and Cavendish Nuclear £3.34m ($4.22m) from the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund to advance their plans for advanced modular reactors (AMRs) in the country. X-Energy will match this investment, and the collaboration aims to establish a 12-reactor plant in Hartlepool by the early 2030s, with the vision of deploying 40 X-Energy Xe-100 small modular reactors across the UK. This funding reflects the government’s commitment to nuclear innovation and technology development to achieve a quarter of electricity from nuclear power by 2050. The companies will explore the licensing process for X-Energy’s Xe-100 AMR design in the UK with nuclear regulators and develop deployment plans tailored to the UK context.
X-Energy UK market leader Carol Tansley expressed delight at receiving the award, emphasizing the readiness of their advanced technology to meet the UK’s energy needs. The Xe-100 reactors are projected to generate 3.2GW of electricity for six million homes or 8GW of high-temperature heat and steam for zero-carbon manufacturing and industrial processes. The collaboration with infrastructure construction company Kier, Sheffield Forgemasters, and the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre aims to assess manufacturing capabilities, supply chain opportunities, constructability, and fuel management strategies for the deployment of AMRs in the UK.