A key decision paving the way for the rollout of smaller, and easier to build nuclear power plants is expected “within the next few weeks”, an energy minister has said amid concerns over delays. Lord Hunt of Kings Heath said he understood the “frustration” felt at the hold-ups faced by the small modular reactor (SMR) programme, but insisted an announcement would be made shortly. Great British Nuclear (GBN), the Government’s expert delivery body, is in the final stages of considering plans by four short-listed companies – GE Hitachi, Holtec, Rolls Royce SMR and Westinghouse. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to put Britain back in the global race for nuclear energy, and to reform planning rules to make it easier to build SMRs in England and Wales. Unlike traditional nuclear plants that are built on site, the reactors are smaller and can be made in factories with “off-the-shelf” components – making construction faster and less expensive. They could also be built in more locations, including alongside energy-intensive industrial sites such as AI data centres. © Supplied by GE Hitachi Nuclear EA visualisation of the GE Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular nuclear reactor design. Nuclear power forms a vital part of the Government’s plans to secure the UK’s energy independence and hit the target of net-zero by 2050. Questioned at Westminster over when an announcement could be expected on awarding SMR contracts, Lord Hunt said: “Great British Nuclear is overseeing the small modular reactor competition for UK deployment. “Following a period of detailed negotiation, bidders have now submitted final tenders which Great British Nuclear is evaluating. “Final decisions will be taken shortly.” But he was pressed by Labour former minister Lord Spellar for a “clearer date” on when decisions would be taken, as he warned of “bureaucratic inertia, dither

SSE has started construction on its £400 million Strathy South wind farm in the Scottish Highlands after securing a Contract for Difference (CfD) in 2023. SSE made a final investment decision on the 208 MW project in December last year, with early construction works now underway at the site near Sutherland. The 35-turbine project is adjacent to SSE’s already operational 67 MW Strathy North site. SSE secured a 15-year CfD contract for Strathy South in the UK government’s fifth allocation round (AR5), with the company aiming to commence operations in 2027. Once complete, Strathy South will have the capacity to power around 200,000 UK homes with renewable electricity. SSE Renewables managing director Stephen Wheeler said the start of construction on Strathy South demonstrates the firm’s commitment to the UK’s energy transition. “At SSE we’re working hard to play our part to support the UK government in the delivery of the country’s most ambitious reforms to the energy system in generations, as set out in the UK’s clean power 2030 action plan,” Wheeler said. © SYSTEMAchany wind farm in SutherlandSupplied by SSE Renewables “We’re committed to delivering the clean power projects the UK needs now, whether through the delivery of our Berwick Bank offshore wind project or through new onshore wind farms such as Strathy South. “Together, we can power change towards a new era of clean, homegrown energy.” Danish turbine manufacturer Vestas will supply, install and commission all 35 of the wind turbines for Strathy South, with the project expected to support 125 full-time jobs at peak construction. Strathy South demonstrates UK planning woes The start of work on Strathy South comes nearly 20-years after SSE first announced proposals to develop a 77-turbine wind farm in 2007. SSE later cut the number of turbines to 39 to limit its environmental

The UK offshore wind industry has released a regional growth plan which its says could create an additional 10,000 jobs and provide a £25 billion boost to the UK economy. The Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) and The Crown Estate (TCE) set out their ambitions for coastal regions in a plan setting out offshore wind clusters across the UK. OWIC said the cluster strategy builds on the sector’s industrial growth plan (IGP) released last year, which set out five key manufacturing and technology priorities. Alongside turbine towers, blades, foundations and cables, the IGP covered operations and maintenance and high-value services such as environmental surveying. Building on the IGP, OWIC and TCE set out seven offshore wind clusters across the UK and identified targeted areas for manufacturing and services. These include the Energi Coast Cluster in the north east of England, the Humber Offshore Wind Cluster, the Clean Energy Cluster in Scotland and the Offshore Energy Alliance in the north west of England and northern Wales. The cluster strategy sets out detailed analysis of each coastal region and identifies which areas are best placed for specific activities set out in the IGP, such as blade manufacturing. It also sets out where the UK can build on existing facilities and supply chains for export opportunities. Offshore wind manufacturing For example, OWIC said the Humber, north east of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland have opportunities to focus on advanced turbine technology including blades and turbine towers. This could add up to £8bn to the UK economy over the next ten years, OWIC said. Seven of the clusters are aiming to develop new capabilities in turbine foundations, including for floating wind, potentially adding up to £12bn between now and 2035. © Supplied by Associated British POffshore wind components at the Siemens Gamesa and ABP

Eni SpA has signed a deal with Ares Alternative Credit Management to negotiate a potential divestment of 20 percent of its renewable energy (RE) arm to the investment fund. The potential sale places an equity value of EUR 9.8 billion ($11 billion) to EUR 10.2 billion on Eni Plenitude SpA Società Benefit, “corresponding to an enterprise value of more than EUR 12 billion”, Italian state-backed Eni said in a brief statement. “The agreement follows a thorough selection process involving several prominent international players who expressed strong interest in the company, further confirming the great appeal of its business model and its growth prospects”, added the statement on Eni’s website. Earlier Energy Infrastructure Partners (EIP) raised its stake in Plenitude to 10 percent by injecting EUR 209 million in additional capital. Including EUR 588 million paid March 2024, EIP has invested about EUR 800 million in Plenitude. “The transaction confirms a post-money equity value of Plenitude of around EUR 8 billion and an enterprise value of over EUR 10 billion”, Eni said in a press release April 11, 2025. EIP partner Tim Marahrens said, “Our increased commitment to Plenitude reflects our confidence in its unique integrated model, which combines renewable generation, retail energy solutions and e-mobility at scale”. “Over the past year, Plenitude has demonstrated its ability to exceed targets and capitalize on the accelerating energy transition”, Marahrens added. Plenitude’s installed generation capacity from renewable sources rose to four gigawatts (GW) last year. Plenitude plans to reach 10 GW of renewable capacity by 2028. Currently it is active in over 15 countries. It counts more than 10 million retail customers, as well as over 21,000 electric vehicle charging points, according to Eni. Recently KKR & Co. Inc. completed the purchase of a 25 percent stake in another Eni company, biofuels developer Enilive. That is to be

Norwegian firm Equinor will resume construction on its 810 MW Empire Wind project after the US government lifted a stop work order. The administration of US President Donald Trump halted work on the $5 billion Empire Wind project last month, sending shockwaves through the industry. Located around 15 miles off the coast of Long Island in New York, Equinor had initially developed the project alongside fellow North Sea operator BP after securing a lease in 2017. The two firms parted ways in 2024, with Equinor taking full control of Empire Wind and BP taking full control of Beacon Wind, another joint venture project in the US. Equinor received approval from the previous administration under President Joe Biden in 2024, and the project was already 30% complete when construction was halted. Now, after flagging the possibility of legal action against the Trump administration, Equinor will be able to resume work on Empire Wind. Equinor chief executive Anders Opedal thanked President Trump in a statement for “finding a solution that saves thousands of American jobs”. © Supplied by Empire WindProposed vision for the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal connected to Equinor’s Empire Wind project in New York. He also thanked New York governor Kathy Hochul for collaborating with the US federal government. Equinor Wind US president Molly Morris said the project “delivers on the energy ambitions” of the US and New York. “Empire Wind brings supply chain investments in states across the nation including New York, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas and South Carolina,” Morris said. Equinor said it will now perform an “updated assessment” of the project economics in the second quarter of this year. The company said it aims to execute planned activities in the summer offshore installation window this year, and begin commercial operations in 2027.

Taiwan is seeking liquefied natural gas shipments following the shutdown of its last nuclear reactor, a move that will increase the island’s reliance on the seaborne fuel. CPC Corp. is looking for three cargoes for August and September delivery, according to traders with knowledge of the matter. The tender comes after the island closed its last nuclear reactor on Saturday due to the expiration of its 40-year operating license. The state-owned oil and gas company also purchased at least one LNG shipment for June to July delivery this month, according to traders. The 30-day moving average for Taiwan’s LNG imports is at a record for this time of the year, when the island typically imports more fuel to meet its energy needs. The closure of Taiwan’s second-to-last nuclear reactor last July increased procurements.  The final nuclear shutdown will further expose the island, which is home to some of the world’s top chipmakers, to LNG price fluctuations, according to Aniket Autade, a senior analyst from Rystad Energy. “Stable power supply is crucial for industrial hubs and high-end manufacturing facilities, including the semiconductor sector that is strategic to Taiwan’s economic and geopolitical interest,” he said. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed. MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR Bloomberg