Britain plots atomic reboot as datacenter demand surges

"A report published Monday by the government's Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce claims that the UK is now the most expensive place in the world to deliver nuclear projects and calls for a "radical reset" of nuclear regulations, essentially blaming red tape for the decline in Britain's atomic industry over the past several decades. The report recommends "streamlining regulation" to avoid "overly bureaucratic, costly processes," but claims this can all be done while improving safety standards."

"John Fingleton, former boss of the Office of Fair Trading who also sits on the board for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is leader of the taskforce. He says in the report that there are fundamental regulatory drivers of high cost and delay, and cites risk aversion; a prioritization of processes over outcomes; and the lack of incentives to maximize the benefits to society."

"The document outlines 47 recommendations for the government, which come under five general areas: providing clearer leadership and direction for the nuclear sector; simplifying the regulatory approval process for atomic projects; reducing risk aversion; addressing incentives to delay progress; and working with the nuclear sector to speed delivery and boost innovation. Among the recommendations is that a Commission for Nuclear Regulation should be established, becoming a "unified decision maker" across all other regulators, planners, and approval bodies."

The UK is pursuing fast-tracked atomic development to supply energy for AI ambitions and growing electrification of industry and vehicles. The UK is now the most expensive place to deliver nuclear projects, with red tape blamed for the atomic industry's decline over several decades. Recommendations call for streamlining regulation to avoid overly bureaucratic, costly processes while improving safety standards. John Fingleton leads the taskforce and identifies regulatory drivers of high cost and delay: risk aversion, prioritization of processes over outcomes, and a lack of incentives to maximize societal benefits. Forty-seven recommendations target five areas: leadership and direction; simplifying approvals; reducing risk aversion; addressing incentives to delay; and working with the sector to speed delivery, including creating a Commission for Nuclear Regulation, reforming environmental and planning regimes, amending judicial review cost caps, and limiting legal challenges to accelerate projects.

Read at Theregister