UK Advances Nuclear Strategy with North Wales SMR Roll-Out
The UK government has confirmed that its first small modular reactor (SMR) power station will be built at Wylfa on Anglesey, North Wales, marking a significant step in Britain’s clean-energy transition. Backed by more than £2.5 billion in investment, the project will be delivered by the state-owned Great British Energy – Nuclear and designed by Rolls-Royce SMR, with the potential to supply power to around 3 million homes.
The Wylfa project represents a revival of the UK’s nuclear ambition after decades of delay. SMRs are smaller, faster to construct, and more flexible than traditional reactors, offering a scalable source of low-carbon electricity that can operate alongside variable renewables. As such, they are central to the government’s plan to strengthen energy security, lower emissions, and provide reliable baseload power for critical sectors such as healthcare and manufacturing.
Sitting on a site with nuclear heritage dating back to the 1960s, Wylfa will anchor a new phase of nuclear investment across the country. Great British Energy – Nuclear has also been tasked with identifying additional sites for future projects by autumn 2026, potentially including a new large-scale reactor to follow the current builds at Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the project represents “national renewal in action — powered by British talent, powered by nuclear, and powered by a government that’s delivering for working people.” Energy Secretary Ed Miliband described the announcement as “the government’s clean energy mission in action — driving for energy sovereignty and abundance to take back control of our energy.”
The decision reflects a clear shift in UK energy strategy — toward a more diversified, sovereign, and low-carbon mix. As renewables continue to expand, nuclear remains the backbone of round-the-clock generation, capable of balancing wind and solar while cutting reliance on imported fuels. For a nation aiming to become a clean-energy superpower, the first SMR at Wylfa could be the template for a new era of British nuclear power.