The UK and US are set to sign a major agreement this week to accelerate nuclear power development, promising thousands of jobs, lower energy costs, and stronger energy security.
The deal, expected during US President Donald Trump’s state visit, will unlock billions in private investment and streamline licensing for nuclear projects, cutting approval times from four years to just two.
Branded the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy, the initiative will fast-track joint ventures such as the construction of up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool by US group X-Energy and UK’s Centrica, enough to power 1.5 million homes and create 2,500 jobs.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called it a “golden age of nuclear” that would put the UK and US at the forefront of global innovation. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said it would deliver “clean, homegrown energy” and drive growth, while US Energy Secretary Chris Wright described it as a “nuclear renaissance.”
The broader programme, worth up to £40bn, includes an £11bn plan to repurpose the former Cottam coal plant in Nottinghamshire as a nuclear-powered data hub and an £80m project to install a micro modular reactor at London Gateway port.
Beyond power generation, the partnership will boost fusion energy research and cut UK and US reliance on Russian nuclear material by 2028.
With ageing reactors set for decommissioning and nuclear’s share of UK electricity down from 25% in the 1990s to about 15% today, officials say the partnership is vital to meet rising demand, including from AI and data infrastructure.
