UK government confirms North Wales as chosen site for the third new mega-nuclear facility

A woman walks her dog on a beach in front of the decommissioned Wylfa nuclear power station on the island of Anglesey, Wales (Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo)

The decision is said to have come after the government acquired the site from Hitachi for £160 million (€187 million) in early 2024.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has confirmed Wylfa as the chosen site for the UK’s third new mega-nuclear facility.

The government aims to meet a quarter of the nation’s electricity demand through domestic nuclear power by 2050 and is now said to be in talks with international energy companies regarding the construction of the new plant.

The proposed facility is said to be able to generate enough energy to power six million homes for 60 years, contributing to the UK’s clean energy goals.

Wylfa’s location on the North Wales coast is considered ideal due to its access to cooling water and a history of nuclear activity.

Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary of State Claire Coutinho stated, “We are powering ahead with the biggest expansion of nuclear energy in seventy years. Anglesey has a proud nuclear history, and it is only right that, once again, it can play a central role in boosting the UK’s energy security.”