Wedoany.com Report-Nov 20, The UK and the US have joined forces at the Cop29 UN climate conference to speed up the deployment of cutting-edge nuclear technology to help decarbonise industry and boost energy security – while also cutting Russia out of a forum aimed to foster development of Generation IV nuclear plants.
UK energy secretary Ed Miliband and US deputy secretary of energy David Turk signed on 18 November a new agreement while in Baku, Azerbaijan, for climate talks that will help pool together billions of pounds worth of nuclear research and development – including the world’s leading academic institutions and nuclear innovators.
The UK said it will take a leading role in the new forum, which aims to support information-sharing on advanced nuclear technologies and make them available for use in industry by 2030.
The UK government said in a statement that as part of the agreement, the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) will no longer include Russia – ensuring future collaborations “remain among mutually willing parties who respect nuclear safety norms”.
The new agreement will come into force from 1 March 2025 and is expected to also be signed by Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, China, Euratom, Switzerland and Australia, all of whom are members of GIF. The statement did not mention Argentina and Brazil, who are “non active” GIF members.
The statement said new technologies such as advanced modular reactors can help decarbonise heavy industry such as aviation fuel, hydrogen or advanced steel production, by providing low-carbon heat and power. They are also smaller and can be made in factories, making them quicker and cheaper to build.
“This will support the commitment made last year at Cop28 to triple nuclear energy capacity globally by 2050, with 31 countries signed up including the US and UK,” the statement said.
The statement said the UK is reversing a legacy of no nuclear being delivered and moving forward with its advanced nuclear reactor programme and a small modular reactor competition, as well as continuing development of the planned Sizewell C project.
“New nuclear will help to secure thousands of good, skilled jobs and support energy independence beyond 2030,” it added.
