‘Small modular reactors could provide the energy solution that dispersed industry so urgently needs’
The Association for Decentralised Energy
Dispersed industrial sites urgently need deliverable clean energy solutions to help them remain competitive as they work towards delivering net zero in an increasingly volatile energy price landscape.
That was the suggestion from Mike Reynolds, CEO of Last Energy UK, the official supporter of the Association for Decentralised Energy’s (ADE) annual Winter Reception, hosted by Charlotte Nichols MP on Tuesday. At the packed networking event in the House of Commons, a wealth of ADE members, political stakeholders and other leaders from across the sector gathered to explore what the future might look like for key industrial sites such as the factories and refineries that operate outside the large clusters.
After ADE CEO Lily Frencham welcomed the audience, Mike took to the stage, highlighting that among the multitude of solutions that will undoubtedly form the future industrial energy mix, there is a key role for small and micro nuclear power. Speaking at the event, he said:
“We're talking to industrial partners across the UK, and the message we hear is consistent: industrial centres are increasingly grid constrained and facing unprecedented energy costs. It threatens their competitiveness and it threatens our broader decarbonisation goals. These customers want on-site generation now, and they're asking for nuclear. Small and micro nuclear is a key solution for this sector, and Last Energy is committed to quickly scaling its technology for UK industry.
“When it comes to the climate, we need to ensure that solutions for industry are prioritised with the same urgency we see elsewhere. Now is the time for an honest debate about how we can move forward and decarbonise industry particularly, which represents 30% of the UK’s energy use and is feeling the dual pressures of decarbonisation amidst an energy crisis. Last Energy’s solutions form part of the wider decentralised energy piece and integrate with existing technologies. We have a 20MW electrical power plant producing 60MW of thermal, so things like district heating are an obvious space for collaboration.”
The industrial leaders in the room echoed his sentiments for accelerating solutions for industry. Suneel Appan, Head of Strategic Energy Projects at British Sugar and Chair of the ADE’s Industrial Energy Forum pointed to the fact that dispersed sites now make up roughly half of the UK’s industrial emissions. He explained that while such sites often vary significantly in terms of geography, their needs and desired outcomes are common – they require policy certainty and a long-term pathway to effectively decarbonise, thrive and remain cost-competitive, both domestically and internationally.
The importance of taking a calculated, multi-technology approach was also raised by ADE Vice President and Co-Chair of the Nuclear Energy All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Charlotte Nichols MP. She said: “As we move towards net zero, it’s not only about having a multi-technology approach to get to that point, but also about how we empower local communities to make decisions about which of those technologies are best suited for their area and businesses – there is so much value within all of the different technologies that are represented within the ADE family, including Last Energy, and it’s really great to see these net zero solutions supporting green jobs in the UK and ensuring that we will meet our climate objectives.”