The UK could build up to seven nuclear power stations by 2050, while banking on offshore wind as part of a new strategy to increase its energy independence after the Russian invasion of Europe. Ukraine.
"The idea is that, given what Putin is doing, we don't want to live in a world where we are dependent on Russian hydrocarbons," Kwasi Kwarteng said in the
Sunday Telegraph
, pointing out that "offshore wind , and especially nuclear” were “means of having electricity generation capacities in the United Kingdom”.
According to the newspaper, after intense internal discussions, Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is due to present its strategy on Thursday to reduce the UK's energy dependency and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. There is a realization within the government that we could do more in nuclear matters,” said Kwasi Kwarteng.
In 2050, “there is a world where we have six or seven sites in the UK,” he continued.
"It won't happen in the next two years, but it's definitely what we can aspire to."
Two new plants by 2030
According to the
Sunday Telegraph
, the plan calls for the construction of at least two large-scale nuclear power plants by 2030, in addition to small modular reactors, so most of the nuclear sites in operation must close by this deadline.
Conversely, hydraulic fracturing and onshore wind power will not have a central role in the new strategy because of “the strong local opposition” encountered by these technologies, the minister stressed.
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