DESNZ announces new UK-US nuclear partnership agreement
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has announced the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy agreement between the UK and US governments, aimed at accelerating nuclear power station development through streamlined regulatory processes. Under the agreement, reactor design checks will be fast-tracked, allowing safety assessments from one country to support approvals in the other, potentially reducing licensing timelines from three to four years to approximately 24 months. As part of the initiative, five key commercial deals have been announced, including: (1) X-Energy and Centrica's project to build 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool; (2) Holtec, EDF and Tritax's project to develop advanced data centres powered by small modular reactors at the former Cottam coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire; and (3) Last Energy and DP World's plans to establish one of the world's first micro modular nuclear power plants, supported by £80m in private investment, among others. The partnership also extends to fusion energy, with joint UK-US experimental programmes using AI technology to develop advanced simulation tools, while test facilities will accelerate progress towards commercial fusion power.