Plans to position North Wales as a key location for a new generation of smaller nuclear power stations have taken a step forward.
Development company Cwmni Egino, which was set up by the Welsh Government to develop the former Trawsfynydd nuclear power plant site, has completed a first phase of work confirming the viability of deploying small modular reactors (SMRs).
The UK Government said that contracts will be awarded via a competitive tendering process to build out a network of SMRs, which alongside renewables, will play a role in reaching net zero targets of the UK and Welsh governments, as well as strengthening energy security.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates, through Seattle-based TerraPower, is considering bidding, as well as others, including Rolls-Royce.
Cwmni Egino has established land owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) could be suitable for a range of SMR technologies with the potential to generate up to 1 gigawatt of electricity.
It is estimated that SMRs at Trawsfynydd could create over 400 long-term jobs and £600m gross value added for North West Wales and £1.3bn GVA for the whole of Wales during over an operational life of 60 years. It would also create thousands of additional jobs during the construction stage, as well as through the Welsh and UK supply chains.
Cwmni Egino has set its sights on being the first SMR project approved by the UK Government with construction starting before the end of the decade.
Its chief executive Alan Raymant said: “In addition to meeting our energy needs and net zero targets, deploying SMRs at Trawsfynydd offers a huge inward investment opportunity for Wales. This is aligned with key policies and priorities of both the UK and Welsh Governments.
“We believe that Trawsfynydd presents the first, most credible opportunity to kick start a long-term programme of SMR projects in the UK, and catalyse significant economic growth locally, regionally and nationally. Cwmni Egino provides a development vehicle to drive this forward.
“Our plans are more advanced than other sites suited to small scale nuclear, and the work we’ve done over the past 12 months gives us added confidence that we can successfully deliver a project at Traws. We have already put in place a five year development programme which means our project can be ready for approval by the latter part of this decade – in line with the UK Government’s energy security ambitions.”
Cwmni Egino is yet to select a technology partner for the project, and wants to work with Great British Nuclear (GBN), the recently formed UK Government body tasked with leading the UK SMR technology competition.
Mr Raymant said: “We’ve already been in discussions with a number of technology providers and there is significant interest in deploying SMR at Trawsfynydd. We will work closely with GBN over the coming months to confirm the technology solution that best suits Trawsfynydd within the overall selection process for the UK.
“The other key area of focus for us now is to secure Government (UK) commitment to the next phase of the project. In particular, we need confirmation that Trawsfynydd is one of the projects GBN wants to be developed. This will give us the certainty that we need to unlock this opportunity and access additional development funding.”
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “It’s great news Cwmni Egino has completed the first phase of its work at Trawsfynydd and that genuine progress is being made towards realising the company’s ambition to begin deploying small modular reactors on site by the end the decade.
“We established Cwmni Egino in 2021 so it could lay the groundwork to achieving significant socio-economic benefits for North West Wales and to ensure it achieves this, it’s vitally important Great British Nuclear now engages meaningfully with Cwmni Egino so Trawsfynydd is formally selected as the first SMR site in the UK.”
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