Exciting vision for Severn Edge
A new vision for the Western Gateway's Severn Edge project has been published. The vision shows a shared vision for how the sites could become a Low Carbon Energy Park which can create high quality jobs, new skills opportunities and deliver low carbon energy. Deputy director, James Cooke explains why this is important in this blog.
‘READY TO GO!’ is the consistent message from the Western Gateway and the headline of a new Vision document promoting the ‘Severn Edge (Bro Hafren)’ Low Carbon Energy Park offer at Oldbury & Berkeley in Western England. The UK Government ambition for 24GW nuclear energy generation by 2050 simply cannot be delivered without a clear future for Oldbury and there is a timely opportunity to ensure that Berkeley remains the intrinsically linked site for enabling the necessary skills and R&D.
With 150ha of policy-compliant land for new nuclear technology on the land adjacent to the decommissioned Oldbury-on-Severn Power Station; and with a 200,000sq.ft Science & Technology Park adjacent to the Engineering & Cyber University Technical College at Berkeley (just three miles north), Severn Edge is a comprehensive skills, supply-chain, innovation and energy generation package.
The queue and the capability of the technology vendors visiting the site and registering their investment appetite since we came so close to landing the UK’s first Fusion powerplant in 2022 is an impressive list of global energy brands.
With a mix of SMR, AMR and fusion technologies in growing stages of design and investment readiness, 2024 could see the greatest leap towards energy generation at these sites since decommissioning. With an imminent and exciting investment announcement expected at Berkeley - once home to the UK’s first purely civil nuclear power station - this area is ready to be at the forefront of a new low carbon energy revolution. With the UK Government’s Civil Nuclear Roadmap and Siting Consultation announced last week, Oldbury is expected to be front and centre of the UK energy security mix for many compelling reasons.
The enormity of the existing supply-chain serving Hinkley Point C includes globally-unique expertise in high-temperature technology at Gloucester, amongst more than 12,000 nuclear sector businesses in the South West alone. The National College for Nuclear in Bridgwater is leading the long-term sustainability for the supply chain, whilst the likes of the South West Nuclear Hub at the University of Bristol and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory at University of the West of England are pioneering the latest innovations in safe and efficient production, engineering and decommissioning.
This Vision reiterates the opportunity for these communities to once again play their part in realising energy generation in the UK. That community voice was overwhelming at consultation events in 2022 with more than 400 people from across Oldbury, Berkeley and Thornbury engaging with a majority of support for a future of energy generation and skills investment in these sites.
Development will need to meet the environmental, safety, skills and jobs expectations; but the ecosystem is rife to optimise these at Severn Edge and UK regulator approval remains a valued export requirement in the nuclear industry on account of the safety standards here. That is why investment and deployability readiness is so critical, and why the Western Gateway is ready to work with the UK and Wales Government’s to support delivery and open the routes to supply-chains and international export and investment, beginning with investment surety for Severn Edge.
This Vision shapes ongoing engagement across the industry and with the local stakeholders and communities and should you wish to learn more contact James.cooke@western-gateway.co.uk
