A major breakthrough in the future of UK energy has arrived as French energy giant EDF is committed to a 12.5% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear power project. It unleashes thousands of UK jobs and marks bold steps towards an energy independence and a low-carbon future.
This groundbreaking investment has made EDF the first official partner alongside the UK government, pledging £14.2 billion to the project in a recent spending review.
Located on the Suffolk Coast, Sizewell C supplies millions of homes with reliable low-carbon electricity and is designed to drive the country’s most ambitious nuclear expansion in decades.
British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer welcomed the landmark investment. “It is clear that the dithering and delays in Sizewell C will no longer be.
“Lower energy bills, thousands of jobs and apprentices, and better energy security. This is not only a vote of trust in the UK as an investment destination, but a plan of change in behavior.”
Economic boost and job creation
At Peak Construction, Sizewell C supports approximately 10,000 jobs across the UK, with thousands more expected across the supply chain.
The project will also generate 1,500 apprentices and help build a skilled workforce for the clean energy future.
In parallel, French engineering firm Assystem announced plans to double the UK workforce, adding 1,000 engineering, digital and project management roles to 10 sites, including Bristol, London, Sunderland and Derby, by 2030.
Strategic Timing and International Collaboration
The investment is just before the UK-France summit as Prime Minister Kiel Starmer prepares to meet President Emmanuel Macron to strengthen cooperation on energy, defense and economic growth.
The announcement illustrates the growth of UK-France collaborations in nuclear development and green innovation.
As part of the energy alliance, Urenco, a UK uranium enrichment company, has signed a 15-year supply agreement with EDF, fueled by nuclear power plants across Europe.
The multi-billion euro contract supports more than 1,400 UK jobs and contributed more than £250 million to the economy in 2023.
An innovative financial model
Sizewell C is supported by a new financing model that combines contributions from taxpayers, consumers and private investors, reducing upfront costs and spreading financial risk.
French export credit institution BPIFRANCE is also intervening with a £5 billion debt guarantee, enabling support from major commercial banks.
The UK government is a key stakeholder of the project and maintains oversight to ensure timely delivery and strong governance.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband added:
“This agreement is a groundbreaking moment in the longstanding partnership in private nuclear power between the UK and France, and is a testament to our country’s strong relationship.”
The Golden Age of the British Nuclear
Sizewell C is more than just a power plant. It is at the heart of a modern, resilient and sustainable energy system for the UK’s future.
With the Sizewell C, Hinkley Point C and the small modular reactor (SMR) pipeline scheduled online in the 2030s, the UK is entering what officials call the “golden age” of nuclear power generation.
This surge in clean energy is expected to supply more new nuclear power capabilities than the combination of the past half-century, reduce emissions, increase energy security and reduce long-term invoices.
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