The UK’s Biggest Nuclear & Power Plant Projects Right Now
Date: 22 Sep 2025
UK’s Big Bets on Nuclear & Low-Carbon Power
The UK is investing heavily in large-scale nuclear and low-carbon power generation to strengthen energy security and hit net-zero targets. Here’s a look at the top three projects currently underway — and why they matter.
1. Hinkley Point C (Somerset)
- Type: Nuclear (2x EPR reactors)
- Capacity: ~3.2 GW – enough for 6 million homes
- Cost: £25–30+ billion
- Timeline: First reactor expected 2029–2031
Hinkley Point C is the UK’s flagship nuclear project and the largest construction scheme in Europe. Despite delays and rising costs, it will play a critical role in delivering reliable, low-carbon baseload electricity.
Why it matters:
- Major step towards UK energy independence
- Thousands of jobs created during construction
- A blueprint for future nuclear builds
2. Sizewell C (Suffolk)
- Type: Nuclear (2x EPR reactors, Hinkley “twin”)
- Capacity: ~3.2 GW – also powering ~6 million homes
- Cost: Tens of billions, with £14.2bn UK government support committed
- Status: Final Investment Decision approved July 2025
Sizewell C mirrors Hinkley’s design, reducing some risks through replication. Backed heavily by government funding, it is the next major nuclear plant moving into delivery.
Why it matters:
- Strengthens supply chain and workforce developed at Hinkley
- Anchors long-term nuclear investment in the UK
- Adds stability to a renewables-heavy grid in the 2030s
3. Net Zero Teesside Power (Teesside)
- Type: Gas + Carbon Capture (CCGT with CCS)
- Capacity: ~742 MW
- CO₂ Removal: Up to 2 million tonnes per year
- Cost: £833 million onshore works contract awarded to Balfour Beatty
- Status: Final investment approval secured (Dec 2024)
This isn’t nuclear, but it’s groundbreaking for the UK. Net Zero Teesside will be the world’s first commercial-scale gas power station with carbon capture, transporting captured CO₂ to offshore North Sea storage.
Why it matters:
- Provides reliable electricity while slashing emissions
- Kick-starts UK’s carbon capture & storage industry
- Positions Teesside as a clean energy hub
Challenges Ahead
- Rising costs & long build times
- Financing and investment hurdles
- Skilled labour and supply chain shortages
- Regulatory & environmental approvals
The Bigger Picture
Together, these projects:
- Deliver low-carbon baseload power alongside wind & solar
- Reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels
- Support UK net-zero by 2050
- Create tens of thousands of jobs and local growth opportunities
