One Nuclear Power Station a year the goal for Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister has announced he wants to build a new nuclear power station every year to reduce Britain's dependence on fossil fuels.

Boris Johnson said nuclear power needs to play a larger role as the UK looks to move away from dependence on Russian energy.

The announcement came after the Prime Minister's visit to Hartlepool nuclear power station last Monday.

Critical

Johnson said that nuclear power is “absolutely crucial to weaning us off fossil fuels, including Russian oil and gas.”

“Instead of a new one every decade, we’re going to build one every year, powering homes with clean, safe and reliable energy,” Johnson said in a tweet.

Nuclear power supplied around 21% of the UK’s energy during 2020, up from 9.4% in 2000.

Expansion

In addition, the government has outlined a plan to expand the country’s nuclear power generation to 24 gigawatts by 2050.

The strategy proposes to build up to eight nuclear plants. As well as this, plans include a target to create 95 per cent of Britain’s electricity from renewable sources. This goal includes nuclear sources with an end date of 2030 – up from 55 per cent at present.

The Government hopes the strategy will make Britain a net energy exporter by the end of the decade, and help protect the country's economy from global energy price shocks.

Double Down

The UK’s decision to double down on nuclear follows neighbour France, which has long supported nuclear power and relies on nuclear reactors for about 70% of its electricity.

The Prime Minister was backed by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng in finalising the plan after weeks of wrangling, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s objections about the cost of nuclear ultimately overruled.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said:

“Nuclear power stations like the one I visited in Hartlepool today are absolutely crucial to weaning us off fossil fuels, including Russian oil and gas.

“Instead of a new one every decade, we’re going to build one every year, powering homes with clean, safe and reliable energy.”