Could Kent be part of UK's nuclear 'golden age'?

We are entering a "golden age of nuclear", says Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and calls are being made for Kent to be included in the planned new era.

June has proved to be a big month for nuclear power, with £16.7bn committed to developing the Sizewell C reactor as well as small modular reactors (SMRs) to meet growing electricity demand.

Now, with the government looking to select an SMR site later this year, voices in the county say that Dungeness, with its existing infrastructure, is ideal for the latest low-carbon energy project.

But opinions are split, with opponents saying that new nuclear in Dungeness will be at the expense of the environment.

Before defuelling began in June 2021, Dungeness B generated enough electricity for a million homes a year on average across its 38-year lifespan, according to energy company EDF.

While the plant has been shut since 2018 due to "significant" technical challenges, Kent County Council's newly elected Reform UK councillor David Wimble, cabinet member for environment, said he hoped Dungeness would be "on the list" for an SMR.

Speaking to Radio Kent, he said: "People are scared by the word nuclear. We would really love to have new nuclear on Romney Marsh and would favour that over covering half of the marsh in solar panels."

Mr Wimble said building an SMR in Dungeness would be "very simple" with the infrastructure to join the National Grid already in place from the former power station.

The government's new era of nuclear energy focuses around small modular reactors, which are to be built by Rolls-Royce, and over £2.5bn has been pledged to the scheme as part of the recent Spending Review.

Once a site is selected later this year, the government hopes to have the new SMRs connected to the grid in the mid-2030s.

Adam Cheetham, of the Nuclear Institute, said it was "more than possible" for an SMR to be built at Dungeness while decommissioning of the previous reactor took place.

And, with the infrastructure and skills already in the area, he said there were "multiple options for the future of the site".

He added: "We are seeing investment and the government are well aware that these investments need to be made now to have nuclear power for the next 10 to 40 years."

The debate over whether Dungeness could return to the nuclear power fold has been long-running, even before decommissioning began on the current reactors.

In 2010, the government published its examination on sites it believed to be fit for new reactors by the end of 2025.

In its assessment, Dungeness was not deemed to be a potentially suitable site, as it believed that no new reactor could be built without more sea defences which would damage the site at a Special Area of Conservation.

As a result, in 2023 a minority-Green Party administration Folkestone and Hythe District Council committed to a "new era of clean energy production".

Richard Outram, of the Nuclear Free Local Authorities campaigning group, said Dungeness was a "particularly problematic" site because of the environmental impact.

He said: "There's a very high possibility of flooding in Dungeness.

"The fact is that nuclear power will be too slow to have a meaningful impact on climate change.

"I think that, realistically, we don't have the time to wait for this 'golden age' to be delivered."

But, with the end of 2025 now much closer on the horizon, the decision crucially did not rule out future applications.

The then-Coalition government recognised the strength of feeling from residents, with most respondents in favour of Dungeness as a potential site.

The report added: "A new nuclear power station at Dungeness would be likely to have long term positive impacts on employment, the economy and communities at the local level."

With Dungeness B now in the defuelling process, it was also argued that job losses from its decommissioning could be offset by construction and operation of a new station.

It remains to be seen how Dungeness and Kent will pay its part in any potential nuclear "golden age".

A government spokesperson said no decision had yet been made on sites for the new SMR programme but that a decision was expected to be made later in 2025.

An EDF spokesperson said it welcomed discussion about Dungeness and was "happy to engage with projects looking to develop the site" but was focussing on its current sites as well as developing Hinkley Point and Sizewell C.

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