By Obinna Uballa
The United States and the United Kingdom are set to sign a wave of multibillion-pound nuclear energy deals during U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain this week, in what leaders are calling the dawn of a “golden age of nuclear power.”
CNBC reports that the agreements expected to be inked include plans to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, northeast England, and new data centres powered by small modular reactors (SMRs) in Nottinghamshire.
Officials say the deals will create thousands of jobs, accelerate clean energy deployment, and unlock billions in private investment.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the cross-Atlantic partnership would put both nations “at the forefront of global innovation and investment.”
X-Energy, a U.S.-based nuclear developer, and Centrica, the owner of British Gas, announced that the Hartlepool reactors would power 1.5 million homes and create 2,500 jobs. The overall programme is projected to deliver at least £40 billion ($54.25 billion) in economic value.
Meanwhile, U.S. firm Holtec revealed plans with EDF and Tritax to build advanced data centres powered by SMRs in Nottinghamshire, a project estimated at £11 billion.
SMRs, which have smaller and lighter footprints than traditional reactors, are viewed as cheaper and faster to deploy once commercialised. Tech giants including Amazon and Google have already backed SMR projects in the U.S. to meet soaring energy demands from data centres.
The U.S.-U.K. collaboration, dubbed the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy, also includes plans to establish the world’s first micro modular nuclear power plant.
“With President Trump’s leadership, the United States is ushering in a true nuclear renaissance, harnessing commercial nuclear to meet rising energy demand and fuel the AI revolution,” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Monday.
