Morning, Thursday, 23rd October 2025
Online
This conference will examine next steps for the nuclear industry, in light of the Government’s recent commitment to investment in the nuclear sector, including:
- £14.2bn towards construction of Sizewell C over the Spending Review period
- selection of Rolls-Royce as the preferred bidder with £2.5bn funding to build the UK's first three SMRs
- a further £2.5bn for nuclear fusion, as set out in government’s recently published UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy
Delegates will address concerns from some surrounding the cost and value for money of the construction of Sizewell C, including how to mitigate potential delays, such as in planning approval. There will also be discussion on how to avoid construction costs of Sizewell C being passed onto consumers.
Policy and regulation
It will bring key stakeholders and policymakers together to assess the direction of policy, with the recently published Industrial Strategy and Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan announcing a forthcoming framework on a pathway for privately-led advanced nuclear projects and a fusion-specific National Policy Statement. Delegates will discuss key areas of concern to be addressed in order to provide clean, affordable, secure, and safe nuclear energy, as well as what is needed to meet the 2030 clean power target.
Broader issues relating to nuclear industry policy in the UK will also be explored, including planning and devolved policy. The seminar will examine how environmental impact assessment processes affect nuclear development timelines, exploring different approaches to balancing project delivery with environmental oversight requirements.
Delegates will also consider progress and next steps for the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce in encouraging home-grown development on new sites and optimising regulatory processes, with recent changes to planning policy. The relationship between nuclear energy and industrial policy will be examined, including links to the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the wider Industrial Strategy.
Nuclear in the energy mix
Sessions will examine the role of nuclear energy within the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, including the contribution of nuclear energy to the generation mix going forward, extending the operational lifespan of older plants, and the development of new facilities such as Hinkley Point C, and Sizewell C.
There will be discussion on nuclear's baseload capabilities and grid-balancing functions, particularly in light of recent grid stability concerns in other European markets, and how nuclear power may provide system flexibility alongside renewable energy sources. The opportunity for nuclear to become a low-carbon technology and its role within broader energy strategies will also be assessed, alongside the role of Great British Nuclear in advancing plans for Small Modular Reactors and larger developments on new sites.
Funding
Further discussion will consider financing options for new nuclear plants, looking at potential investment models and their implications. Delegates will examine implications of the Government's £14.2bn commitment to Sizewell C and what can be learnt for future project funding. They will discuss the role of Great British Energy and evaluate the merits of the Regulated Asset Base model compared to the Contracts for Difference model, as well as alternative funding mechanisms, options for attracting private sector investment and the potential to classify nuclear power as eligible for green finance.
Economic contribution and innovation
We expect the agenda to bring out latest thinking on the potential for SMRs to provide power for new AI data centres, as well as UKAEA initiatives to encourage new market entrants via AI Growth Zones. Following the selection of Rolls-Royce for the Great British Nuclear SMR competition alongside £2.5bn in funding, discussion will explore the path to delivering the UK's first SMRs.
Delegates will also look at opportunities for economic growth through enhancing domestic supply chains and skills in the sector.
Further areas for discussion include the future of fusion technology, including priorities for the Government’s updated plan for the development and deployment of fusion energy, and how a fusion market framework might operate moving forward. Delegates will also discuss opportunities for growth following the recent announcement of over £2.5bn investment in nuclear fusion and progress with the STEP programme in Nottinghamshire, alongside the work of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, the £410m investment towards a research cluster at West Burton, and the feasibility of delivering prototype fusion plants by 2040.
Decommissioning, safety and environmental issues
Sessions in the agenda will address decommissioning challenges, including implications of the Government’s recent £13.9bn CDEL settlement for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and its approach to keeping the UK’s former nuclear sites and facilities safe and secure, as well as ongoing issues such as the leak at Sellafield’s Magnox Swarf Storage Silo since 2019. Sessions will also address concerns from the Public Accounts Committee over slow clean-up progress and the projected £136bn decommissioning cost at Sellafield over the next century, alongside current consultations such as the Environment Agency’s low-level waste burial proposals at Winfrith.
Nuclear safety will be considered, examining regulatory approaches, risk management strategies, and public confidence, including communication around safety measures and cybersecurity risks.
Overall areas for discussion include:
- regulation: planning reform and development of new nuclear sites - priorities for the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce - support for accelerated project timelines - remaining regulatory challenges
- sector development: nuclear contribution to the 2030 Clean Power Action Plan - strategies to extend the operational life of existing plants - timeline and impact of new developments, including Sizewell C delivery
- SMRs: implementation plans following Rolls-Royce selection as the preferred bidder - advanced reactor developments - options for streamlining procurement and planning processes - implications for domestic manufacturers - potential for prioritising UK supply chains
- energy security: potential in reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports - diversifying the nuclear fuel supply chain - examining how nuclear fits into the energy mix - grid integration and system balancing capabilities
- financing: implications of direct government funding models, following Sizewell C commitment - examining the RAB model for funding large projects - options for CfD and other potential alternatives - UK Green Taxonomy classification - potential impact on investment
- industrial strategy: regional economic development, infrastructure investment and job creation - synergies with AI Growth Zones - priorities for domestic skills, training, and supply chains
- safety and cybersecurity: recent increases in incidents - risk mitigation strategies - regulatory oversight and improved compliance - public communication - trust in nuclear safety measures
- community engagement: taking account of local concerns, including planning opposition - incentives such as community benefits for hosting nuclear infrastructure
- international relationships: collaboration and competitiveness - technology and innovation partnerships - global finance and development examples - UK clean energy transition competitiveness
- fusion: technology development - government support, including UKIFS funding - feasibility of delivering prototype fusion plants by 2040 - advancing fusion research and commercialisation
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from CCS; DBT; DESNZ; GBE; HM Treasury; HSE; MCA; MHCLG; MOD; NAO; PEDW; NISTA; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
