Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their target date for the first supply of electricity to the grid from UK-based small modular reactors.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) has selected Rolls-Royce SMR as its preferred bidder to partner with to develop the UK's first small modular reactors (SMRs), subject to final government approvals and contract signature, which will be sited at Wylfa on Anglesey in North Wales.
With the aim of deploying to the grid in the mid-2030s, the project is expected to provide around 1.5GW of low carbon electricity, powering the equivalent of around 3 million of today’s homes.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to designate the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station site as a nuclear research site for developing and producing radioisotopes for medical purposes.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) through Nuclear Restoration Services, are decommissioning the legacy facility and own the land at Trawsfynydd. The NDA engages parties to explore maximising national and local value with the land that it owns.
The responsibility for the supply of medical radioisotopes sites with the Department of Health and Social Care. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero provides support to other government department’s exploring nuclear medicine projects.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to ensure that all new contracts for wind farms at sea include clauses to ensure that the developer and operator must specify before a contractual agreement how the development will benefit the adjacent coastal communities.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that communities hosting clean energy infrastructure should benefit from doing so. While community benefits for offshore wind are currently delivered voluntarily, Government is exploring the introduction of a mandatory community benefit scheme across low‑carbon technologies. The offshore wind industry has well-established community benefit schemes providing funds for coastal communities.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the estimated total cost of the National Grid's Eryri Visual Impact Provision is; and by what date it will be completed.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not hold a specific estimate for the total cost or completion date of National Grid’s Eryri project. Responsibility for delivery and associated costs rests with National Grid under Ofgem’s regulatory framework.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with universities and other higher and further education institutions in north west Wales regarding the skills and training that the local workforce will need in order to obtain employment at the proposed nuclear facility at Wylfa.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy – Nuclear’ s small modular reactor project at Wylfa on Anglesey is expected to generate around 3,000 on-site jobs at peak construction, along with thousands more across the supply chain. The industry-led Nuclear Skills Plan will support this workforce growth and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders in Wales by launching a Wales Regional Skills Hub in 2026. Bangor University are also part of the Nuclear Energy Futures Centre for Doctoral Training which through the Nuclear Skills Plan we have provided funding to recruit an additional cohort of PhD students in this academic year.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are their planned (1) start, and (2) completion, dates for work on constructing the nuclear power station at Wylfa.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
GBE-N has selected Rolls-Royce SMR as its preferred bidder to partner with to develop the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project, subject to final government approvals and contract signature, targeted later this year.
Initial site activity at Wylfa will begin in 2026, with the first operational SMRs targeted from the mid-2030s.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, or plan to have, with the Welsh Government about the provision of education and skills courses to equip the workforce with the training necessary for the construction of the proposed small modular reactors at Wylfa.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In June 2025, the Government announced a new golden age of nuclear power, which is set to create thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK. As part of this, Great British Energy – Nuclear’s small modular reactor project to be located at Wylfa on Anglesey is expected to create around 3,000 jobs on site at peak construction plus thousands more across the supply chain.
The industry-led Nuclear Skills Plan will support this workforce growth and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders in Wales by launching a Wales Regional Skills Hub in 2026.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government which nuclear sites that have been in the process of decommissioning are being considered for new nuclear projects, including radioisotope production, as set out in the Interim Report 2025 of the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, published on 11 August.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is designating a new National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation, EN-7, which will empower developers to identify suitable sites for new nuclear projects using a robust set of siting criteria.
Separately, last year Great British Energy - Nuclear acquired the Oldbury and Wylfa sites. No decisions have yet been taken on specific projects at these sites. Any nuclear project would require development consent, subject to EN-7 once designated.
The Government is also aware of developer or community interest in nuclear projects at several other sites, including those being decommissioned. These include Pioneer Park (Moorside), Trawsfynydd (via Cwmni Egino), Hartlepool, and Dungeness.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the Interim Report 2025 of the Nuclear Regulation Taskforce, published on 11 August, what consideration they are giving to re-examining the UK’s approach to risk management in the nuclear sector to ensure delivery of projects in a timely manner.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is actively considering the findings of the Interim Report to help inform reforms that support timely delivery of Nuclear Projects.
'This includes working with industry and regulators to look at how regulation is applied in a proportionate way to support faster deployment of projects while maintaining safety levels at UK sites and continuing to meet internationally recognised standards. The government awaits the independent Taskforce’s final report, due in the Autumn, and will respond to its recommendations in due course.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the existing energy storage capacity of (1) hydroelectric pump storage facilities at full capacity, (2) battery storage facilities, and (3) other methods of electricity storage; and what are the target figures for expanding each category in the next 10 years.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Power capacity statistics for energy storage capacity in the UK can be found in the annually published Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES), in particular Table 5.16.[1] The government’s Clean Power Action Plan[2] sets out ranges for the energy storage capacity we could need by 2030, as informed by advice from the National Energy System Operator (NESO). While there are no fixed targets set for 2035, NESO regularly publishes Future Energy Scenarios which set out pathways to Net Zero in 2050 and include energy storage capacity
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electricity-chapter-5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-power-2030-action-plan