How old are UK nuclear power plants, and when was the newest one built ?

Energy strategy : The United Kingdom intends to build eight additional nuclear reactors to increase output.

• As part of the UK's new energy policy, up to eight additional nuclear reactors might be allowed on existing sites.

• The policy, which seeks to strengthen UK energy independence while combating growing prices, also includes goals to increase wind, hydrogen, and solar output.

• However, experts have recommended for a greater emphasis on energy efficiency and house insulation.

• Consumers are experiencing skyrocketing energy expenditures as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has driven up gas prices even more.

• According to the government's current plans, by 2030, up to 95% of the UK's power might come from low-carbon sources.

• It describes, for example, the prospect of producing up to 50 giga tons (GW) of electricity from offshore wind farms, which the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (Beis) claims would be more than enough to power every house in the UK.

• The government's energy policy has been greatly delayed, with the building of onshore wind turbines being one of the major sources of disagreement.

Key points of the new energy strategy

Nuclear – The government intends to lessen the United Kingdom's dependency on oil and gas by constructing up to eight new nuclear reactors, including two at Sizewell in Suffolk. The delivery of the new plants will be overseen by a new authority.

Wind - The administration intends to change planning legislation in order to expedite licences for new offshore wind farms. It seeks to form agreements with "supportive towns" who wish to host turbines in exchange for guaranteed lower energy costs for onshore wind farms.

Hydrogen - Hydrogen production targets are being increased in order to assist supply cleaner energy for industry, as well as electricity, transportation, and maybe heating.

Solar - The government is considering changing the restrictions for installing solar panels on houses and commercial buildings in order to raise existing solar capacity by up to five times by 2035..

Oil and gas - In the summer, a new licencing cycle for North Sea projects will be launched on the basis that producing gas in the UK has a smaller carbon impact than producing gas elsewhere.

Heat pumps - A £30 million "heat pump investment accelerator challenge" will be held to develop British heat pumps that cut gas use.

Some of the strategy's tactics have sparked outrage and bewilderment among energy specialists and environmentalists.

• They are astounded that the administration has not proposed any new regulations to save energy through insulating buildings.

• They claim that improving energy security is the cheapest and quickest approach to cut expenses and pollution.

• According to a Downing Street insider, the approach is now being viewed as an energy supply strategy.

• Campaigners are also outraged that officials have committed to looking for additional oil and gas in the North Sea, despite the fact that humanity have already discovered enough fossil fuels to destroy the planet.

• However, there is widespread support for the prospect of increased offshore wind energy with faster planning approval. Onshore wind has not received the same boost.

• The decision to increase nuclear power has elicited a mixed reception. Some environmentalists argue that it is both too expensive and too risky. They mock some politicians' concept that each community may have its own small reactor.

• Other climate activists, though, feel nuclear power must be included in the energy mix.

• The government hopes to "lead the world once again" in nuclear power, correcting "decades of underinvestment," according to the new policy.

• The government announced the formation of a new entity named Great British Nuclear to boost the UK's nuclear capability, with the goal of producing up to 24 GW of energy from nuclear power by 2050 - 25% of expected electricity consumption.

• The nuclear focus might result in up to eight additional reactors being built on existing locations.

• The government plans to license a new reactor each year until 2030, with the goal of having them operational by 2050.

It also announced that two additional reactors at Sizewell in Suffolk will be approved during this parliament. Wylfa in Anglesey and Oldbury in South Gloucestershire have also been identified as potential locations for large-scale plants, smaller modular nuclear reactors, or both. Other suitable sites will be identified by the Great British Nuclear Body. The Nuclear Industry Association's Tom Greatrex said the proposals were a "important step forward" for the UK to fulfil its climate targets and potentially create thousands of employment.

"The will and passion to achieve much more and much faster is extremely welcome," he remarked.

What is the new UK energy strategy?

Will the UK's energy policy be successful?

How much nuclear electricity does the United Kingdom use?

How much may my energy expenses increase?

The government said that it will modify planning laws to reduce approval timelines for new offshore wind farms, with the goal of having wind power account for more than half of the UK's renewable capacity by 2030.

The policy pledges to consult on forming agreements with "a restricted number of supportive towns" who wish to host wind turbines in exchange for guaranteed lower energy prices for onshore wind.

However, the strategy states that there would be no "massive revisions" to present onshore wind planning restrictions.

Despite being one of the least expensive kinds of energy, new onshore wind projects have been dropping since 2015, when the government halted subsidies and implemented tougher planning requirements in response to concerns that wind turbines were unsightly and noisy.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended the choice not to prioritize onshore wind, claiming that the UK already has around 30GW of onshore wind power.

Speaking at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project, he claimed onshore wind farms were "controversial" because of their aesthetic effect and future sites "would have a very high bar to cross".

Mr Johnson said the approach was about "tackling the faults of the past and making sure that we are positioned properly for the future".

He claimed the government was "already doing a significant lot to help people with the immediate cost of living, and of course we are going to do more," citing programmes such as a £6 billion energy efficiency fund and funding for heat pumps.

However, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticised the policy as "too little, too late" to assist individuals facing growing expenses.

"All we've got today is a jumbled list of things that could and should have been done over the previous 10 to 12 years, and it doesn't even address very critical things like insulating houses, which could save everyone £400 on their bill," he added.

It "did not serve the requirements of people or the climate," according to Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay.

Mr Ramsay argued that if the government was "serious about energy bills and implementing meaningful climate action, it would be moving much farther on onshore wind".

The measures were criticised as "utterly useless" by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, and a "lost opportunity" by SNP leader Stephen Flynn.

• No plans for new nuclear reactors in Scotland

• UK nuclear boost plan gives Anglesey plant hope

"Most of these decisions will take a long time to have an impact, and in the near run we will continue to be dependent on fossil fuels," former Ofgem chief Dermot Nolan warned.

He added the lack of attention on energy efficiency, on insulation, on increasing the quality of people's houses "is a chance squandered".

"This is an urgent problem that requires immediate answers, and this has no effect on pricing," said Dr Simon Cran-McGreehin, head of analysis at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit.

"It makes some efforts to improve energy supplies, but they are largely medium to long-term solutions. So it appears to fail the exam question "He continued.

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