An article researched and written by World Nuclear News reports that a group of major companies, trade unions and individuals have launched an initiative to develop a Clean Energy Hub centred on a ‘package of nuclear projects’ at Moorside in Cumbria.

The proposal is based on projects including a new 3.2GW UK EPR plant (a third generation pressurised water reactor design), as well as small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced modular reactors (AMRs), with links to technologies including renewables and hydrogen production.

The Moorside Clean Energy Hub plans to “capitalise on the design, replication and project experience” from the Hinkley Point C UK EPR and the follow-on Sizewell C project to develop Moorside, as well as offering to host SMRs and AMRs.

The group said: “Co-locating future technologies alongside UK EPR technology will bring together a range of skills, experience and industry knowledge at one site, helping to bring forward the development of SMRs and AMRs.”

The hub will also link the nuclear plants with other energy technologies (such as renewable energy generation, hydrogen production and energy storage), and will explore ways of providing clean heat to industry; it could also produce hydrogen to be used as a ‘green’ fuel for local transport and industry.

The Moorside Hub includes: Altrad; Atkins; Balfour Beatty Bailey; Bilfinger; Cavendish Nuclear; Doosan Babcock; EDF; GMB; Jacobs; Laing O’Rourke; Mott MacDonald; Mace; Prospect; Quod; Unite the Union; and economic development specialist John Fyfe. Several of the companies are involved in the construction of Hinkley Point C, and many are involved in Sizewell C.

Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the UK’s Nuclear Industry Association, said the “serious” interest from developers and “great support” from the local community, supply chain and trades unions, demonstrated the level of excitement around nuclear’s potential to boost economic regeneration whilst meeting environmental goals.

“These are exactly the attributes the country needs to bounce back from Covid-19, deliver jobs, and get us on track to hit Net Zero. Large scale and smaller next-generation technologies have a huge amount to offer working as part of the clean energy hub concept.”