United Kingdom's government officials have stated their intention to increase the country's nuclear power capacity fourfold by the year 2050. According to ministers, this initiative would decrease dependence on foreign supplies and be the industry's largest growth in 70 years.

Meanwhile, existing nuclear projects are already behind time and over budget, which has sparked worries. 

Nuclear Power Expansion

A plan outlining the UK's strategy to quadruple nuclear power to 24GW by 2050 was unveiled on Thursday, January 11, by the government.

In an effort to increase its energy autonomy, the UK has launched the Civil Nuclear Roadmap to find a different location for a nuclear power station comparable to the £30 billion ($38 billion) facilities in Sizewell, Suffolk, and Hinkley Point, Somerset, which are now under development. A number of people familiar with the matter have informed the BBC that Wylfa on Anglesey and Moorside in Cumbria are among the most prominent candidates.

In addition to pledging £300 million ($382 million) to manufacture nuclear reactor fuel in the UK--a process that is now exclusively done in Russia--the statement from Thursday claimed that this would lead to cheaper bills and better energy security. Another goal in making this investment is to become a major player in the uranium fuel industry, competing with Russia, as reported by the energy industry digital magazine Power Technology.

Sizewell C is only one example of how local resistance has persisted throughout contemporary nuclear projects, which delays and cost overruns have also plagued. As part of its strategy to swiftly grow the UK's nuclear energy industry, the government has increased its initial investment in Sizewell C from £700 million ($890 million) to over £1 billion ($1.2 billion).

According to The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), rapid acceleration is necessary for all forms of clean energy. Approximately 15% percent of the UK's energy comes from nuclear power, although several of the country's old reactors will be turned off in the next ten years.

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Doubts Over the Plan

There may be a long lag time between planning and power on, sometimes taking over 20 years. In fact, Sizewell consultations lasted for a full decade. There is still a lot of local resistance to the proposal, and most of the building has yet to begin.

To combat these issues, the government plans to expedite the construction of new power plants. It hopes that new nuclear power reactors may be delivered more quickly with the help of better regulation.

A sustainable energy specialist and Labour candidate in Sizewell's nearby district, Jack Abbott, recently said the government had been "dragging their feet" on nuclear power for far too long.

Even the REA seems doubtful, according to BBC. Policy director Frank Gordon said, "We need to accelerate the deployment of all clean energy sources, especially renewable power from diverse sources, plus supporting the roll-out of the much-needed clean technologies, energy storage working at all scales and duration."

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