Micro modular nuclear plants planned for Bridgend

A rapidly expanding US company that specialises in building micro modular nuclear power plants has announced plans to develop four units in Bridgend.

CAD image of the Llynfi site

Last Energy’s proposal will see the 20MW plants built on a vacant site that housed the coal-fired Llynfi Power Station from 1950 until 1977, when it was decommissioned.

The four proposed units would serve local industrial customers.

Last Energy has already obtained site control, begun to conduct site surveys, and initiated the planning process. The firm says its plants “would aim to deliver power to mid-size manufacturers throughout south Wales, providing 24/7 baseload power and putting the local economy on a path toward industrial decarbonisation”.

Last Energy aims to deliver the first plant by 2027, depending on the licensing and planning processes.

According to the company, the plants’ annual output would be equivalent to the amount of energy consumed by around 244,000 UK homes per year, alleviating grid restraints and contributing to the Welsh Government’s 2030 net zero targets as well as national climate goals.

Last Energy says it will not require public funding for the development and estimates an overall capital investment of £300m in equipment, services, and other development-related activities. The company plans to source at least 10% of its needs from south Wales suppliers, translating to a £30m local economic investment – not including business rates collected by Bridgend council – and at least 100 local full-time jobs.

Michael Jenner

Michael Jenner, CEO of Last Energy UK, said: “Last Energy’s Llynfi project will not only transform a vacant coal site into a hub for clean energy production, it will also create economic opportunity for companies throughout south Wales. The benefits of nuclear power speak for themselves, so our focus must be on delivering those benefits on time and on budget.

“Last Energy’s emphasis on mass-manufacturability allows us to deliver significantly smaller plants in under 24 months with purely private financing. We look forward to engaging with the public, meeting local suppliers, and being an active partner in south Wales’ path towards energy”

A company spokesperson added: “Last Energy’s mission is to drive a rapid global transition toward affordable clean energy by productising nuclear development. A Last Energy plant, referred to as the PWR-20, consists of a few dozen modules that are assembled like a LEGO kit. It requires minimal land. The PWR-20 is designed to be fabricated, transported, and assembled within 24 months, and is sized to serve private industrial customers.