Electric cars could hail ‘massive ramp up’ of nuclear power

The widespread electrification of transport could necessitate a “massive” extension of the UK’s nuclear new build programme, according to Horizon Nuclear Power’s chief operating officer.

Alan Raymant, chief operating officer at Horizon since 2009, told Utility Week that as “the only form of base load low carbon energy commercially available” nuclear power must form an essential part of the UK’s future, decarbonised economy.

Existing nuclear new-build projects including EDF’s Hinkley Point C and Horizon’s Wylfa Newydd, will ensure that the UK’s aging nuclear fleet, which generates around 20 per cent of energy consumed nationally every day, is replaced. But Raymant reasoned that a significant rise in the penetration of electric vehicles would need to be matched by a big increase in low carbon base load.

“If you replace all our cars with electric vehicles then actually the demand for low carbon baseload electricity might increase substantially – obviously offsetting other energy sources,” said Raymant.

“In that kind of scenario you can see the need for a massive ramp up in nuclear, beyond the current programme,” he concluded.

Raymant’s comments were made during an interview with Utility Week which will be available in full from Friday 17 July both online and in print.

Horizon Nuclear Power will shortly begin negotiations with UK government in order to settle a contract for difference for its 2.7 gigawatt Wylfa plant. It aims for this power station to become operational by 2022.