Sizewell C: Does the UK need new nuclear plants to reach net zero emissions?

With the cost of renewables and batteries plummeting, some academics argue that the UK doesn’t need to build new nuclear power stations to achieve its net zero goal

By Madeleine Cuff

Eight months ago, the UK government made a big bet on nuclear, promising to treble the size of the country’s nuclear fleet between now and 2050.

Delivering on that promise would require huge investment in both large-scale new nuclear plants and small-scale modular reactors. This follows years of government delay and prevarication.

Ministers at the time told the public this push for nuclear was essential to achieve the UK’s aim to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

That nuclear-fuelled zero-carbon future …