Energy Security and Net Zero

Having considered the responses to the consultation, I am pleased today to be able to present three revised energy national policy statements for parliamentary approval. This represents an important milestone towards achieving the Government’s clean power and net zero ambitions. National policy statements are a crucial part of ensuring the planning system is fit for purpose. These revised NPSs provide greater clarity to developers and decision makers on Government policy concerning specific types of energy infrastructure projects and ensure that decisions are made in an accountable way by Ministers.

Investment in our nation’s infrastructure is key to enable the growth the UK needs. The revised energy NPSs will ensure the UK has diverse sources of electricity generation, and that we remain at the forefront of low- carbon technological development.

The revised NPSs I am laying before Parliament today under section 9(8) of the Planning Act 2008 set out national policy in key energy policy areas:

EN-1 covers the overarching needs case for different types of energy infrastructure.

EN-3 deals with renewable electricity generation.

EN-5 deals with electricity networks.

The supporting appraisal of sustainability and habitats regulations assessment provides detailed environmental assessments of the updated NPSs.

I am today also publishing the Government response to the consultation, to which there were over 180 responses, and providing the Government response to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, which reviewed the NPS updates.

I will deposit copies of all these documents in the Libraries of both Houses and they are available on gov.uk.

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Today I am pleased to inform the House that the Government have selected Wylfa in north Wales as the site to host the Government-backed small modular reactor programme.

Thanks to record investment the Government are making in our nuclear power sector, Britain is entering a golden age of new nuclear. The Government’s SMR programme, led by Great British Energy-Nuclear, is putting the UK at the forefront of nuclear innovation, creating long-term economic benefits and good jobs in local communities, while opening up significant export opportunities. At the spending review the Chancellor committed over £2.5 billion to support the UK’s ambition to lead the global race for SMRs, and announced that following a rigorous selection process GBE-N had identified Rolls-Royce SMR as preferred bidder, subject to final Government approvals and contract signature.

Following careful consideration, Wylfa, on the north coast of Anglesey (Ynys Môn), is the Government’s chosen location for GBE-N’s SMR project.

Wylfa is one of the UK’s best nuclear sites, with a proud legacy and the capacity to host a fleet of SMRs. The initial project will see the construction of up to three Rolls-Royce SMR units, with GBE-N assessing the site to have the potential to host up to eight units, although this would be subject to future policy and funding decisions.

This decision will deliver once-in-a-generation opportunities for both Wales and communities across the country. For communities in Wales, building SMRs at Wylfa will create up to 3,000 new high skilled jobs at peak construction, attracting long-term investment and delivering an essential part of the UK’s energy future—while supporting thousands more jobs across Britain’s world-leading supply chain.