UK Government Gives Green Light To Sizewell C Nuclear Project

On 20 July 2022, the Sizewell C Project application has been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by NNB Nuclear Generation (SZC) Limited on 27 May 2020 and accepted for Examination on 24 June 2020.

The UK government said the application involves the construction of a new nuclear power station producing reliable, low-carbon electricity to help Britain achieve Net Zero.

It is intended that Sizewell C, operating two EPR reactors, will generate enough low-carbon electricity to supply six million homes.

The approval process for Sizewell C has so far included four rounds of public consultation which began in 2012 and has involved more than 10,000 East Suffolk residents.

Read the Official Press Release.

As reported by NucNet, last June the government published documents which showed “significant progress” towards implementing a new funding model for new nuclear power stations – with negotiations continuing for Sizewell C to be the first project to use the scheme.

The new regulated asset base (RAB) model will give nuclear projects the financial support they need and attract private investment. It will see projects such as Sizewell C receive a regulated payment from electricity suppliers, helping them come to fruition.

The government set out its case for Sizewell C to receive funding under the model and launched a consultation on how projects would receive RAB financing.