The United Kingdom and the United States have unveiled a sweeping set of nuclear power deals aimed at accelerating advanced reactor deployment and cutting dependence on Russian nuclear fuel supplies.
The agreements, part of what officials have described as a ‘nuclear renaissance,’ will be formally signed during President Donald Trump’s state visit to London this week, the British Embassy in Washington confirmed. Built under a new framework, the initiative is expected to deliver faster safety approvals, streamlined regulatory cooperation, and billions of dollars in private sector investment.
Branded as the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy, the program is intended to drive growth and innovation in civil nuclear power. British officials have also underlined its potential to create thousands of jobs and stimulate regional development, particularly in northern England.
One of the largest projects announced will see UK energy company Centrica partner with U.S.-based X-energy to construct up to 12 modular reactors in Hartlepool. The six-gigawatt fleet could generate 2,500 jobs and significantly boost the local industry.
Other ventures include a collaboration between Holtec, EDF, and Tritax to develop data centers powered by small reactors at a former coal plant in Nottinghamshire. Meanwhile, Last Energy and DP World plan to build one of the world’s first micro modular nuclear stations to power the London Gateway port.
Additional agreements cover a $4.6 million Urenco-Radiant contract to supply High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) to the U.S. market, a move designed to end reliance on Russian supply by 2028. TerraPower and KBR will also evaluate potential UK sites for their Natrium advanced reactor, while the U.S. prepares to host a Global Fusion Energy Policy Summit next year to enhance cooperation in fusion research.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the initiative, saying the commitments set the country “well on course to a golden age of nuclear that will drive down household bills in the long run, while delivering thousands of good jobs in the short term.”
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright described the framework as a step that would “strengthen U.S. energy dominance and secure nuclear supply chains across the Atlantic.”
Nuclear power has seen a steep decline in the UK, falling from supplying a quarter of the nation’s electricity to just 15%, with no new plants built in decades and several aging stations facing closure. The U.S. has sustained nuclear’s share at about 18% of electricity generation since the 1990s, supported by new reactor projects, timely plant retirements, and fresh investments. Washington has also pledged to triple its nuclear capacity by 2050.
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