The prime minister is determined to pursue plans to build up to eight new nuclear power plants, although the chancellor is concerned about the cost, which is projected to rise to more than 13 13 billion. It is understood that the energy strategy, which is expected to be announced next week, is likely to contain nuclear targets, but will not determine the cost. Johnson will also commit to a “stretch” offshore target, according to a Whitehall source. But it is now said to be less enthusiastic about the potential of land-based winds in England, believing that Scotland offers a better landscape for new turbines. An ally of the prime minister said “he would not really do it [be] pushing for onshore wind power in England “although” it would be in the strategy as a choice where people want it, something that realistically means in Scotland “. Johnson and Sunak reportedly discussed the new strategy this week, which was tasked with ensuring security of supply amid rising gas prices fueled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The document was delayed due to a controversy over the scale of its nuclear ambitions, but is now likely to be released late next week. Sunak will be in London to launch the strategy. However, he is reportedly going on holiday to California, where he has a second home, sometime after the parliamentary recess, despite growing pressure for a lack of measures to help with the cost of living and energy bills in the spring statement. The Treasury Department understands that it has concerns about the expansion of nuclear power in the UK, with the cost of the new stations burdening citizens’ energy bills under the new funding system. The government is also likely to take a minority stake in new projects and has set aside around 7 1.7 billion £ to acquire a plant, Sizewell C, capable of moving forward. But with a renewed focus on the UK’s weaning from natural gas, Johnson insists on the need to move forward with the development of new plants, with a target target of around 16 GW of nuclear power in the medium term and closer to 30 GW in the long term. According to the government’s own impact assessment, it takes an average of 13 to 17 years from the initial investment to the generation of electricity from a new nuclear power plant. In the onshore wind, the No. 10 allies had described Johnson as “open-minded” but “passionate about offshore”. He seems to have calmed down because of the prospect of more winds on land, as well as the possibility of fracking in England, because Tory MPs are resisting developments in their constituencies. The idea of giving communities discounts on their energy bills if they accept land developments in their areas has been articulated, which means that the prospect of new developments is not “impossible”, but it is still difficult, sources said. However, Johnson has given mixed messages about the offshore wind after telling a group of industry leaders this week that he was “terrified” of how long the planning process would take. He was told that a wind turbine could be installed in a day, but the design permit could take a decade. Officials expect No. 10 to pass an energy bill to set goals and a strategy for energy security, to be announced in the queen’s speech in May. The United Kingdom has struggled to build new nuclear power plants in recent decades, with the Japanese Hitachi Group withdrawing plans to build a new reactor in Wylfa, North Wales in 2020, and a move against permitted Chinese investment in Sizewell C offshore. of Suffolk.
