Last Energy Announces Project In South Wales, To Build Four Micro-Nuclear Plants To Decarbonise Local Industry
Project To Create £300M Economic Investment, 100 Local Jobs; No Public Funding Required
Company Has Obtained Site Control, Initiated Planning Process, Beginning Public Engagement
Bridgend, South Wales — Last Energy, a full-service developer of 20 MWe micro modular nuclear power plants, announced today a new project to deploy four units in Bridgend County, Wales to serve local industrial customers.
The company — which has obtained site control, begun conducting site surveys, and initiated the planning process — will build the plants on a vacant site that housed the coal-fired Llynfi Power Station from 1951 to 1977. Last Energy’s plants will deliver power to mid-size manufacturers throughout the region, 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, contingent on the licensing and planning processes.
Taken together, the plants’ annual output will be equivalent to the amount of energy consumed by approximately 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 will not require public funding for the development, and estimates an overall capital investment of £300 million 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 £30 million local economic investment (not including business rates collected by Bridgend County) and at least 100 local full-time jobs.
Following briefings with Bridgend County Borough Council and the Welsh Government, Last Energy will now begin public engagement for the project. The company has launched a website where the public can learn more about its plans, and will begin hosting a series of local community events later this year.
In addition to engaging the local community, Last Energy will begin identifying potential local suppliers for its project in South Wales. The company will host events for prospective suppliers on 5 November in Cardiff and 6 November in Swansea to discuss its procurement process. In addition to manufacturers for plant fabrication, Last Energy will look for companies to help with on-site plant installation, maintenance, and security.
“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,” said Michael Jenner, CEO of Last Energy UK, a subsidiary of Last Energy. “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 security and industrial decarbonisation.”
Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Lord Hunt, said the following: “New nuclear projects can revitalise communities by repurposing old industrial sites and injecting new jobs and investment. This is at the cutting-edge of nuclear technology and could help decarbonise industry by providing low-carbon heat and power. It comes a day after the UK’s investment summit and signals that we are reversing a legacy of no new nuclear power being delivered, ensuring the long-term security of the sector while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.”
“New nuclear is an integral part of a future power system — providing secure, reliable and always available electricity to consumers,” said Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association. “Increasingly, industries are looking to nuclear to provide that reliable and price predictable heat and power as they seek to decarbonise. Potential projects such as that proposed by Last Energy, with an innovative business model of direct to industry power and co-location, will be required if deep decarbonisation is to become a reality rather than a slogan.”
Great British Nuclear said the following: “Last Energy’s announcement shows the wide range of opportunities for nuclear energy to power the UK’s growth. Last Energy have announced the start of their public engagement plan to develop privately financed micro modular nuclear power plants at the vacant site of the Llynfi coal-fired power station, in South Wales.
“New nuclear is a vital part of Britain’s energy future. As well as large-scale power stations like Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, and the Small Modular Reactors Great British Nuclear is in the process of selecting, these kinds of even smaller reactors can supply heat and power to industries of the future. They are set to drive development and innovation, and significantly reduce industrial carbon emissions, which will be of huge benefit to the UK’s economy and will play a significant part in our clean air future.”
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, is comprised of a few dozen modules that are assembled like a LEGO kit and 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.
As a full-service developer, Last Energy owns and operates its plug-and-play power plant on the customer’s site, bypassing the decade-long development timelines of electric transmission grid upgrade requirements. The company intentionally relies on existing supply chains and uses the same reactor technology found in over 300 plants worldwide.
Last Energy currently has commercial agreements for 80 units throughout Europe, most of which will be developed throughout the UK.