Upcoming Trade Shows in UK for Power & Energy

Britain's nuclear power industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation. While EDF Energy, a subsidiary of French giant EDF Group, remains the dominant player keeping the lights on with its existing plants, the future looks quite different. EDF is pouring a whopping $800 million annually into upgrades, but the real game changer is new-build. Two colossal European Pressurized Reactors (EPRs) are under construction: Hinkley Point C in Somerset and Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point, a joint venture with China General Nuclear, is already facing delays and cost hikes, but EDF aims to get its first reactor online by 2027. Sizewell C, co-owned by the government, will follow a similar design. Here's the twist: Sizewell C is the first nuclear project funded through a new model where consumers pay a levy upfront, before the plant even generates electricity. But that's not all. The UK government has its sights set on the future with advanced modular reactors (AMRs) and small modular reactors (SMRs). Great British Nuclear, a government company, is running a competition to pick two SMR technologies – a sign they believe smaller, potentially faster-to-build reactors could play a key role. Meanwhile, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is tackling the cleanup of the UK's existing nuclear sites. With 17 sites to manage, the NDA is looking to innovation and competition to get the job done efficiently, but it’s task is going to be a challenge considering that 7 out of these sites are advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) stations. In short, the UK's nuclear industry is embracing new technology and funding models while ensuring the safe cleanup of its past. This is a big bet on a low-carbon future.