According to a statement from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and Claire Coutinho, the UK will be the first European country to launch a high-content low-enriched uranium (HALEU) programme with an investment of £300 million (3.).$8.1 billion) Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Emissions.
The plan will produce enriched uranium needed for the next generation of reactors and provide jobs and investment in the North West of England, "which will end Russia's domination as the sole commercial producer of Haleu," the statement said.
Britain will become the first country in Europe to launch a high-tech HALEU nuclear fuel program, strengthen the new nuclear program ** and force Putin to withdraw further from the global energy market.
This investment is part of a plan to help provide clean, reliable nuclear power of up to 24 GWE by 2050 – equivalent to a quarter of the UK's electricity needs. The launch of the Haleu program "will allow the UK to supply the world with specialized nuclear fuel."
An additional £10 million will be provided to develop the skills and sites for the UK to produce other advanced nuclear fuels, "to help secure the long-term supply of domestic nuclear fuel** and to support international allies".
Claire Coutinho said: "The UK has provided the world with the first nuclear power plant to be put into operation, and now we will be the first European country outside of Russia to produce advanced nuclear fuel. This is vital for energy security at home and abroad, and builds on the UK's historical competitive advantage. ”
Advanced modular reactors will play an important role in the UK's nuclear revival. Like small modular reactors, they are smaller, can be manufactured at the factory, and can change the way power stations are built by speeding up construction and reducing costs, the statement noted. Many designs have the potential for a range of applications beyond low-carbon power generation, including the production of hydrogen or industrial heat.
The first Haleu nuclear power plant is scheduled to be operational in the early 2030s, and the funding will boost the development of a nuclear fuel production hub in the North West of England, supporting local industry and employment "while helping to scale up our nuclear revival in the UK and overseas".
"This is the basis of the UK's work to displace Russia from the global nuclear fuel market, particularly in uranium conversion services,** and industry will jointly invest up to £26 million to bring this capability back to the UK by the end of the year," the statement concluded. "Within ten years. ”
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has also invested heavily in the development of Haleu. In December, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a Request for Proposals (RFPs) for conversion services to help establish a reliable domestic fuel for advanced reactors using high-content low-enriched uranium (HALEU)**. The U.S. Department of Energy plans to award one or more contracts to convert uranium hexafluoride gas into various chemical forms, such as metals or oxides, for use in the manufacture of fuel needed by many advanced reactor developers. The termination of the conversion contract will last up to 10 years, and the basic incentive guarantees a minimum of $2 million per beneficiary.
Deconversion services are a critical link in the development of the advanced reactor fuel chain** in the United States," said Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy Dr. Kathleen Huff. "We urgently need these services to deploy advanced reactors to support our clean energy future. ”
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 40 tonnes of HALEU may be needed by 2030, and additional amounts are needed each year to allow for the timely deployment of a new batch of advanced reactors to support** the goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035. The Energy Act of 2020 authorizes the Department of Energy to develop and implement a program to support the use of haleu for civilian domestic research, development, demonstration, and commercial use. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provided $700 million for the Haleu Availability Program.
Prior to the imposition of sanctions in February 2022 on the basis of the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia was so far the only Haleu merchant in Europe and the United States.