Anglesey selected as site for UK's first SMR nuclear plant

THE UK’s first “small modular reactor” nuclear power station will be built at Wylfa on Anglesey, the UK Government has confirmed.

- EMILY BEAMENT

The decommissioned Wylfa Nuclear Power Station where a new small modular reactor (SMR) will be built adjacent to it in Cemaes Bay, Anglesey

The first-of-its-kind project will be built by publicly owned Great British Energy-Nuclear and is backed by £2.5bn investment from the Government.

The UK Government also announced Great British Energy-Nuclear (GBE-N) has been tasked with identifying potential sites for another large-scale nuclear power plant, similar to those being built at Hinkley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Essex.

It will report back by autumn 2026, and has been requested by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to consider sites across the UK, including in Scotland, officials said.

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But the plans for small modular reactors at Wylfa have prompted an angry response from the US, with Ambassador Warren Stephens describing America as “extremely disappointed” by the decision.