Boris Johnson backs large and small nuclear energy schemes in ‘green’ 10 Point Plan

Johnson has committed £525M “to help develop large and smaller-scale nuclear plants, and research and develop new advanced modular reactors”.

He claims that “advancing nuclear as a clean energy source, across large scale nuclear and developing the next generation of small and advanced reactors […] could support 10,000 jobs”.

It had been feared that Johnson would turn his back on the development of large scale nuclear reactors after talks with Hitachi over its Wylfa nuclear power plant broke down earlier this year.

The 10 Point Plan also commits to more offshore wind projects, greater roll-out of electric vehicle infrastructure and more active travel schemes (see full breakdown below).

Johnson said: “Although this year has taken a very different path to the one we expected, I haven’t lost sight of our ambitious plans to level up across the country. My 10 point plan will create, support and protect hundreds of thousands of green jobs, whilst making strides towards net zero by 2050.

“Our green industrial revolution will be powered by the wind turbines of Scotland and the North East, propelled by the electric vehicles made in the Midlands and advanced by the latest technologies developed in Wales, so we can look ahead to a more prosperous, greener future.”

The Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan

Offshore wind: Producing enough offshore wind to power every home, quadrupling how much we produce to 40GW by 2030, supporting up to 60,000 jobs.

Hydrogen: Working with industry aiming to generate 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 for industry, transport, power and homes, and aiming to develop the first town heated entirely by hydrogen by the end of the decade.

Nuclear: Advancing nuclear as a clean energy source, across large scale nuclear and developing the next generation of small and advanced reactors, which could support 10,000 jobs.

Electric vehicles: Backing our world-leading car manufacturing bases including in the West Midlands, the North East and North Wales to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, and transforming our national infrastructure to better support electric vehicles.

Public transport, cycling and walking: Making cycling and walking more attractive ways to travel and investing in zero-emission public transport of the future.

Jet Zero and greener maritime: Supporting difficult-to-decarbonise industries to become greener through research projects for zero-emission aircraft and ships.

Homes and public buildings: Making our homes, schools and hospitals greener, warmer and more energy efficient, whilst creating 50,000 jobs by 2030, and a target to install 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028.

Carbon capture: Becoming a world leader in technology to capture and store harmful emissions away from the atmosphere, with a target to remove 10M.t of carbon dioxide by 2030, equivalent to all emissions of the industrial Humber today.

Nature: Protecting and restoring the natural environment, planting 30,000ha of trees every year, while creating and retaining thousands of jobs.

Innovation and finance: Developing the cutting-edge technologies needed to reach these new energy ambitions and make the City of London the global centre of green finance.

To deliver on six points of the plan, Johnson has announced new investment, including:

An extra £200M of new funding to create two carbon capture clusters by the mid-2020s, with another two set to be created by 2030. This increases the total invested to £1bn, helping to support 50,000 jobs, potentially in areas such as the Humber, Teesside, Merseyside, Grangemouth and Port Talbot.

Hydrogen: Up to £500M, including for trialling homes using hydrogen for heating and cooking, starting with a Hydrogen Neighbourhood in 2023, moving to a Hydrogen Village by 2025, with an aim for a Hydrogen Town – equivalent to tens of thousands of homes – before the end of the decade. Of this funding, £240M will go into new hydrogen production facilities.

Nuclear: £525M to help develop large and smaller-scale nuclear plants, and research and develop new advanced modular reactors.

Electric vehicles: £1.3bn to accelerate the rollout of chargepoints for electric vehicles in homes, streets and on motorways across England, so people can more easily and conveniently charge their cars.

£582M in grants for those buying zero or ultra-low emission vehicles to make them cheaper to buy and incentivise more people to make the transition.

Nearly £500M to be spent in the next four years for the development and mass-scale production of electric vehicle batteries, as part of a commitment to provide up to £1bn, boosting international investment into our strong manufacturing bases including in the Midlands and North East.

Homes and public buildings: £1bn next year into making new and existing homes and public buildings more efficient, extending the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme by a year and making public sector buildings greener and cutting bills for hospitals and schools, as part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

Greener maritime: £20M for a competition to develop clean maritime technology, such as feasibility studies on key sites, including Orkney and Teesside.

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