The British government has officially confirmed that Wylfa on Anglesey will become the home of the UK's first mini nuclear power station, marking a significant milestone in the country's energy strategy.
Major Investment and Job Creation
The £2.5 billion project will be developed by publicly owned Great British Energy-Nuclear (GBE-N) and is expected to create up to 3,000 local jobs during peak construction phases. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced that the plant will transform the Wylfa site, where previous nuclear revival attempts had failed, into what officials describe as a "beacon" of a new nuclear era.
Rolls-Royce Technology Powering Homes
Engineering giant Rolls-Royce will design the first small modular reactors (SMRs), which are constructed using prefabricated modules to accelerate building timelines compared to traditional nuclear plants like Hinkley Point C. These innovative reactors are projected to generate sufficient electricity to power approximately three million households across the UK.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasised the project's significance, stating: "Britain was once a world leader in nuclear power, but years of neglect and inertia has meant places like Anglesey have been let down and left behind. Today, that changes."
Welsh Energy Island's Nuclear Renaissance
First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan welcomed the decision, calling it "the moment Ynys Mon and the whole of Wales has been waiting for." She highlighted that new nuclear development represents "a step into the future with secure jobs and secure energy guaranteed for the next generation."
The Energy Department confirmed that GBE-N will commence work at the Wylfa site next year, beginning with an initial project for three reactors. However, the site has capacity for up to eight of these compact power plants. The timeline anticipates the Wylfa reactors beginning to supply electricity to the national grid from the mid-2030s.
While unions have expressed strong support for SMR development, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham cautioned that focusing solely on small reactors without also supporting gigawatt-scale nuclear power at Wylfa would represent "a huge missed opportunity in securing the UK's energy security."
Prospect union's senior deputy general secretary Sue Ferns OBE described the announcement as "the first page of the next chapter for Wales' Energy Island," while emphasising that the site should remain under consideration for future large-scale nuclear projects.
