News Archive

09.07.25

NESO report highlights nuclear's role in UK energy mix

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has released a new report detailing actions that need to be taken to ensure security of clean energy supply in the 2030s. 

The report, Resource Adequacy in the 2030s - July 2025 Update, assesses the potential risks to security of supply and whether there are sufficient available resources to meet electricity demand throughout the year.

 New nuclear is listed as one of the new low-carbon technology options that requires investment, and NESO state they will work with partners to identify barriers to deployment. 

Four of the six scenarios that NESO has modelled within this report include up to 15.1GW of nuclear capacity in the mix by 2040. This is based on assumptions on build rate for SMRs post-2034 and large GW scale nuclear such as Sizewell C coming online.

Nuclear Institute Trustee Richard Deakin FNucI is a member of the expert advisory group that supports the generation of assumptions used to create the modelled scenarios described in the report. 

Commenting on the publication, Richard said:

"The understanding of the need for nuclear as a component of the future energy mix is being increasingly understood by NESO and it was great to be asked to represent the NI and engage with their team to support their modelling of future scenarios and understanding. The report is updated annually and it is good to see nuclear being increasingly considered”.