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United Kingdom and USA Establish Atlantic Partnership in Nuclear Energy with Support from X-Energy to Accelerate Plants and Generate Jobs.
The United Kingdom and the USA announced this week a historic cooperation agreement in nuclear energy, named the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy.
The pact, revealed just before President Donald Trump’s state visit to London, aims to accelerate the construction of nuclear reactors, attract billions in private investments, and create thousands of jobs in the British energy sector.
The initiative also seeks to enhance energy security, reduce bureaucracy, and position both countries as world leaders in the sector.
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Strategic Agreement Aims for Nuclear Advancement
The central goal of the Atlantic Partnership is to halve the time needed to approve nuclear projects, from four years to two years.
In practice, this means that if a reactor is approved in one country, the technical analyses can be used to expedite certification in the other.
Moreover, the program paves the way for new nuclear plants in the United Kingdom and the USA, focusing on innovative technologies that promise greater efficiency and less environmental impact.
X-Energy Will Play a Central Role in the Project
One highlight of the agreement is the partnership between the American X-Energy and the British Centrica, parent company of British Gas. The plan foresees the construction of up to 12 advanced modular reactors (AMRs) in Hartlepool, in northeastern England.
Unlike small modular reactors (SMRs), which use water as a coolant, AMRs operate with gases like helium, a technology still rare worldwide.
Currently, only China has a commercial-scale model — the HTR-PM.
According to the British government, the project could supply 1.5 million homes and generate up to 2,500 direct jobs.
SMRs and the British Bet on Innovation
The United Kingdom already has plans to develop SMRs through Rolls Royce, which has been selected to design and build the country’s first model.
These reactors function as a reduced version of large nuclear power plants, with the advantage of being manufactured in modules and assembled at operational sites.
This reduces costs, speeds up timelines, and allows greater flexibility in expanding the energy matrix.
Despite the potential, experts remind that the SMR industry is still nascent and faces regulatory, cost, and reliability challenges.
Support and Criticism of the Program
The UK’s Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, stated that the private sector is driving the growth of nuclear energy, with direct benefits for British workers.
“Nuclear energy will power our homes with clean, domestically produced energy, and the private sector is building this in Britain, creating growth and well-paid, skilled jobs for workers,” declared Miliband.
However, environmental organizations like Greenpeace criticize the initiative. Chief Scientist Douglas Parr warned that rising costs could drive up energy bills for the population and increase CO2 emissions during construction delays.
Billion-Dollar Costs and Long-Term Challenges
Recent history shows that spending on large nuclear plants tends to increase. The Sizewell C project in Suffolk has already seen its cost jump from £20 billion to £38 billion.
Centrica, which is also involved in this investment, acknowledges the risks but argues that repetition in modular projects can improve costs and schedules.
Chris O’Shea, CEO of Centrica, emphasized that “the more you build, the more efficient it becomes, especially with small, advanced modular reactors that allow replication and reliability.”
Goal of Global Leadership in Nuclear Energy
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has already stated that he wants to reposition the United Kingdom among the global leaders in nuclear energy.
Currently, the sector represents only 15% of the country’s electricity mix, down from 25% in the 1990s.
The ambition is bold: in November 2024, London joined 30 other countries in an international commitment to triple nuclear capacity by 2050.
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