US start-up plans £300m micro nuclear power plant in South Wales

An American start-up is planning to build a £300 million micro nuclear project on the site of an old coal-fired power plant in Wales.
Last Energy, an American developer of micro-modular nuclear power plants, has sought planning permission for four micro-module units in Bridgend County, southeast Wales.
It is aiming to develop its first plant by 2027, which will provide power for industry throughout the region.
The company said that the development would not require any public funding and would inject £30 million into the local economy with the creation of at least 100 local full-time jobs.
The site formerly housed Llynfi power station, which operated from 1951 to 1977, but is currently vacant. The company expects the plant to produce enough energy to power the equivalent of 244,000 homes every year, although it will serve industrial rather than residential customers.
The Last Energy plant, known by the company as a PWR-20, is comprised of a number of modules that it says can be assembled like a Lego kit within two years.
Last Energy has commercial agreements for 80 units throughout Europe. Developers hope that micro and small nuclear projects will be considerably easier to build than larger projects, which have been weighed down by planning disputes and have struggled to attract enough investment.
Michael Jenner, chief executive of Last Energy UK, said that the project “will not only transform a vacant coal site into a hub for clean energy production, it will also create economic opportunity for companies throughout South Wales”.
He added: “The benefits of nuclear power speak for themselves, so our focus must be on delivering those benefits on time and on budget.”
Lord Hunt, the minister for energy security and net zero, said: “This is at the cutting-edge of nuclear technology and could help decarbonise industry by providing low-carbon heat and power.
“It comes a day after the UK’s investment summit and signals that we are reversing a legacy of no new nuclear power being delivered, ensuring the long-term security of the sector while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.”