In its first report, the taskforce says a “radical reset” is needed to speed up vital nuclear projects and overcome regulatory barriers facing the new age of nuclear energy.
The findings reveal an “unnecessarily slow, inefficient and costly” system which is hampering the delivery of clean energy infrastructure needed to power Britain’s future, as well as increasing the costs of the UK’s vital nuclear deterrent.
Reform will encourage more companies to build in Britain, delivering a new golden age of nuclear with thousands of good jobs and investment.
Overcoming regulatory barriers will support advanced new technologies
Radical, once-in-a-generation reform could transform nuclear delivery in several critical areas, while maintaining the highest safety standards.
These include overly complex and inconsistent regulatory processes, risk-averse cultures that prioritise bureaucracy over proportionate safety measures, and outdated planning frameworks that fail to support new technologies like small modular reactors.
It comes after the Chancellor announced action to reduce the administrative cost of regulation by 25%.
Nuclear Taskforce lead John Fingleton explained: “Over recent decades, nuclear regulation has become more complex and costly without always delivering commensurate safety and environmental benefits.
“Our interim report identifies our main concerns with the current system, which we think is not fit for purpose. With a view to recommending a once-in-a-generation reset, we now invite views from interested parties on what solutions will better enable the UK to achieve the huge benefits nuclear power offers.”
Ambitious nuclear reforms set to transform the UK landscape
The final report and recommendations will be published in the autumn. As a first step, the government will work with the taskforce to develop a new strategic direction for nuclear operators and regulators to prioritise quick, effective and safe delivery of nuclear programmes and overcome regulatory barriers.
The government’s nuclear programme is now the most ambitious for a generation, and reforms will be essential to unlock the potential of the industry.
Once small modular reactors and Sizewell C come online in the 2030s, combined with Hinkley Point C, this will deliver more new nuclear energy to the grid than over the previous half century combined.
It follows government action earlier this year to shake up the planning rules to make it easier to build nuclear across the country – delivering cheaper, clean power, energy security and jobs.
“For too long, big British infrastructure projects have been held back by needless bureaucracy,” stated Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh.
“It’s time for a new approach to getting nuclear projects off the ground more quickly, and at a lower cost.”
Recommendations of the final report
The final report’s recommendations will focus on:
Tackling a culture of risk aversion and reluctance to challenge and debate, impacting costs and time, to ensure that risk management is proportionate.
Addressing complex and inconsistent regulations, with processes often duplicated across multiple overlapping regulators.
An outdated planning framework that doesn’t support innovative technologies such as small and advanced modular reactors.
Maintaining a range and depth of expertise across the workforce.
The potential for greater standardisation across international regulators, which could cut down complexity, costs, and delays when seeking approvals.
Improving the regulatory understanding of the cost of project delays to ensure safety measures are proportionate.