Decisions over which firms will be selected to head up the rollout of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the UK face delays on fears of legal action from those not chosen.
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.), EDF, GE-Hitachi, Holtec, NuScale and Westinghouse have submitted bids for government support in rolling out their mini nuclear technology in the UK under a competitive selection process, with winners previously expected to be unveiled by spring.
However, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed in last week’s Spring Budget that this selection process would see its first designs chosen by June.
According to the Telegraph, the delay in the design selection competition is down to fears that unselected bidders could sue the government over a rushed competition process.
Decisions were made to slow the selection process, which is being carried out by Great British Nuclear, therefore, until later in the year.
As a result, contracts to build the plants are unlikely to be handed out before the next general election, expected this year, compared to initial anticipations for this summer.
The news comes after industry members have urged the government to quicken the process of rolling out SMRs in the UK, with industry leader Rolls-Royce having warned last month that it could look to Europe to build the technology first.
SMRs themselves are hoped to be cheaper and quicker to build than traditional nuclear power stations, with their modularised designs allowing much of the manufacturing to take place in factories.
It is expected that the use of SMRs will play a large part in meeting the government’s target of powering a quarter of the UK with nuclear energy by 2025.
Nuclear Industry Association director Lincoln Hill argued that selections needed to be made before the next general election.
“Otherwise the process will take longer and it is crucial that we don’t lose time,” he said, “countries around the world are already moving forward on nuclear and we don’t want the UK to be left behind”.
Phil Jenkins, chief executive of advisor Centrus, said delays risked throwing the UK into "crisis" meanwhile.
"Any responsible government which is facing an energy crisis while winding down other forms of domestic energy supply like North Sea oil and gas, should be on a wartime footing in building up our domestic nuclear capacity," he said.
"This includes both large-scale nuclear, and rolling out new technology in the shape of SMRs.
"But in reality, the large-scale nuclear programme seems to be stalling with delays and cost overruns, and the government is running an international competition for SMR pilots rather than pressing ahead with domestic firms."