Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of promoting and planning the co-location of load-following small modular reactors with stable demand sources, such as data centres or electric arc furnaces, to reduce grid congestion and maximise the flexibility and surplus capacity delivered to the grid.

The Government is aware of the growing interest in private offtake agreements, particularly from energy-intensive sectors, and will explore options brought forward by privately led projects that supporting such arrangements as part of the Advanced Nuclear Framework.