UK and US partner up to bolster global nuclear power

THE UK and the US have forged a new partnership to speed-up the deployment of nuclear technology for decarbonisation and energy security.

At Baku for COP29, UK energy secretary Ed Miliband and US deputy energy secretary David Turk signed an agreement that will “pool together billions of pounds” for nuclear R&D.

This partnership builds on the nuclear defence scheme that the UK and US agreed with Australia in 2021 called the AUKUS submarine programme. The main goal of that pact is to support Australia in acquiring its first nuclear-powered submarine fleet. The country was also offered to join the US and UK’s new partnership but has declined due to it “not having a civil nuclear industry.”

Australia out

Media reports initially stated that Australia was also expected to join the UK-US agreement, which the UK government has since conceded as a mistake.

The Australian government has stated that it would not sign the agreement as it has no plans to adopt the technology domestically, reports ABC News.

Richard Marles, the acting Prime Minister of Australia, said: “"Because we do not have a civil nuclear industry, this agreement does not apply to us."

Marles also criticised the Australia’s opposition Coalition for its plan to replace coal-fired power stations with nuclear plants, saying the country would be “embracing the most expensive form of energy.”

UK leads

For the energy security partnership, the UK government says the country will take a leading role in facilitating the information sharing on advanced nuclear technologies with the US. It also aims to make this information available for use in industry by 2030.

The UK has a number of projects in nuclear fission technology, namely its research into small modular reactors (SMRs) and the construction of the Sizewell C power station.

In parallel, the US is the largest producer of nuclear power globally, being one of the first countries to use nuclear energy commercially in 1957.

Both countries expect to work together to reach a goal from last year’s COP28 to triple nuclear energy capacity globally by 2050.

Nuclear is expected to be used as a major decarbonisation tool for both countries, specifically to be used as an alternative heat and power source for production of aviation fuel and steel.

Miliband said: “Nuclear will play a vital role in our clean energy future. That is why we are working closely with our allies to unleash the potential of cutting-edge nuclear technology.”

The deal is expected to take effect from March 2025.