Since taking office in July 2024, the Labour Government has made notable progress in energy policy, including launching Great British Energy and accelerating the development of clean energy infrastructure. Brevia Energy’s exploration of Labour’s Energy Achievements can be read here. However, significant gaps remain in areas critical to achieving the UK’s long-term energy objectives.
Brevia Energy has been tracking the Government’s delivery of its key energy manifesto commitments through an online tracker. This article, the first in a three-part series, explores the challenges and opportunities within Labour’s nuclear energy policy, emphasising the need for greater clarity and decisive action.
Nuclear’s Place in the Clean Power Puzzle
The Government’s Clean Power 2030 mission aims to reduce reliance on foreign fossil fuels and lower consumer bills. Yet with the UK’s future nuclear reactors not due to come online until the 2030s, nuclear energy does not fit neatly into delivering this mission.
Since coming to power, Labour has made limited progress in advancing nuclear projects. Notably, the Final Investment Decision (FID) for Sizewell C, originally scheduled for late 2024, has been deferred to Spring 2025. As a project anticipated to secure significant investment and job creation in the East of England, moving forward with this infrastructure project will be critical for stimulating growth, bolstering domestic supply chains, and most importantly unlocking 3.2 GW of clean energy capacity.
Delays in Small Modular Reactor Development
The Government has seen similar delays with the conclusion of Great British Nuclear (GBN) SMR competition, which will be vital in kickstarting the UK’s leadership in this nascent technology area. Whilst GBN had initially intended to announce successful bids towards the end of 2024, this timeline has similarly slipped, with final decisions now expected between February and July 2025. With the UK’s competitors making consistent progress on SMR development, it is important for the Labour Government not to lose momentum if the UK is to establish itself as a global leader in this area.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The delays in advancing key nuclear projects, such as Sizewell C and the SMR competition, could risk the UK’s leadership within the broader clean energy innovation. Swift action in 2025 will be essential to secure investment, bolster domestic supply chains, and deliver the energy capacity needed to meet long-term goals.
View our Brevia Energy tracker through here for a deeper analysis into the Government’s progress in delivering its key energy manifesto.
The next article in this series will examine the role of renewable energy in achieving Labour’s Clean Power 2030 mission and outline where further progress is required to meet these ambitious targets.
