The UK and US will build a new generation of nuclear power stations in a partnership that will help shore up the UK’s low carbon energy supply and reduce dependence on imports.

Nuclear power has long been seen as critical to plug gaps in demand from renewables, but is not without controversy, given previous accidents, dangers and the allure of just over the horizon fusion.

The agreement between the UK and US governments to deepen cooperation in advanced nuclear technologies and make it quicker for companies to build new nuclear power stations sets the stage for a significant step forward in the energy security and resilience of the two nations. The Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy will help ensure the accelerated development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technologies in the US and UK. Building a bridge between the world’s first and world’s largest civil nuclear power markets.

The Government has now elected to build plants with Centrica and X-Energy, a US start-up backed by Amazon, having identified EDF and Centrica’s Hartlepool site as the preferred first site for a planned UK fleet of up to 6GW of modular reactors.

Centrica will provide initial project capital for development with the goal of initiating full-scale activities in 2026. Subject to regulatory approval, the first electricity generation would be expected in the mid-2030s. Centrica and X-energy are already in discussions with additional potential equity partners, as well as leading global engineering and construction companies, with the goal of establishing a UK-based development company to develop this first and subsequent projects.

In 2021 DESNZ identified high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) as the most promising advanced technology for demonstration. In 2025 X-energy and Cavendish Nuclear completed a number of year-long assessments, co-funded by DESNZ’s Future Nuclear Enabling Fund, to support the commercial deployment of Xe-100s. Discussions are now underway with Government regarding the ‘route to market’ in the UK, consistent with the principles set out in June for supporting privately led projects.

In June this year, Rolls-Royce was selected as the preferred bidder to develop the UK’s first commercial small modular reactor (SMR) and has stated that the agreement will allow it to further progress its designs in the US.

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