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GridteamAI · Quarterly Sector Report · Gap 32
Sizewell C, Wylfa, Bradwell and the Small Modular Reactor pipeline. The Regulated Asset Base financing model in operation. Renewables flagship, Tranche 2. v2.1, Q4 2028 (forward-looking).
Series consistency · canonical Gap-series system
A4 · 210 × 297 mm
UK English · 2026 edition · v1.0
GridteamAI
Quarterly Sector Report
Gap 32
Renewables · Nuclear New-Build
by GridteamAI
UK · Nuclear New-Build ProgrammeUnited Kingdom · Q4 2028

Nuclear
New-Build.

Sizewell C, Wylfa, Bradwell and the small modular reactor pipeline, the Regulated Asset Base financing model and, as of October 2026, two big UK nuclear plants being built.

gridteamai.com · book@gridteamai.com2026 edition · v1.0Consultancy-grade deliverable
UK Nuclear New-Build · Executive summary06
00 · Executive SummaryA two-page brief

Nuclear is back as UK industrial capacity, and Sizewell C is the proving ground.

Hinkley Point C — EDF, 3.2 GW (2 × 1.6 GW EPR reactors) — approaching commissioning. UK's first new nuclear power plant since Sizewell B (1995). CfD contract at £92.50/MWh in 2012 prices (£117/MWh approximately in 2024 prices).

Sizewell C — EDF + UK Government, 3.2 GW (2 × 1.6 GW EPR reactors) — secured Final Investment Decision and entered construction in 2025. Uses the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) financing model.

NWF Sizewell C commitment: £36.6 billion — separately quantified from the £27.8 billion core NWF capital under the RAB structure (Gap 24 cross-ref).

07Executive summary · continued

The ten things to know.

  1. Hinkley Point C — EDF, 3.2 GW (2 × 1.6 GW EPR reactors) — approaching commissioning. UK's first new nuclear power plant since Sizewell B (1995). CfD contract at £92.50/MWh in 2012 prices (£117/MWh approximately in 2024 prices).
  2. Sizewell C — EDF + UK Government, 3.2 GW (2 × 1.6 GW EPR reactors) — secured Final Investment Decision and entered construction in 2025. Uses the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) financing model.
  3. NWF Sizewell C commitment: £36.6 billion — separately quantified from the £27.8 billion core NWF capital under the RAB structure (Gap 24 cross-ref).
  4. GBE-Nuclear — formed from consolidation of Great British Nuclear into GBE post Royal Assent (16 May 2025) — £2.5 billion GBE capital allocation for Small Modular Reactor programme (Gap 24 cross-ref).
  5. Rolls-Royce SMR — winning bidder of the Great British Nuclear SMR competition. Programme targets first SMR deployment in the early 2030s.
  6. Wylfa (Anglesey, Wales) — next site in the new-build pipeline. Previously identified by Hitachi but Horizon withdrew in 2020. AI Growth Zone North Wales designation (Gap 18) interacts with Wylfa site potential.
  7. Bradwell (Essex) — historically identified for Chinese (CGN) gigawatt new-build; project status materially uncertain following UK-China policy reset.
  8. Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is the UK independent nuclear safety regulator. Generic Design Assessment (GDA) is the primary regulatory approval route.
  9. UK nuclear workforce requirement: substantial scale-up required for Sizewell C construction + Hinkley Point C operations + SMR programme + decommissioning legacy. Cross-ref Gap 26 (Clean Energy Jobs Plan 440k → 860k).
  10. The strategic implication: nuclear is back as a UK industrial capacity. Sizewell C is the proving ground for the RAB financing model. SMR programme positions the UK for 2030s next-generation deployment. The Q4 2028 horizon is the test of whether the programme is delivering on schedule.
Figures—
Figure 1 · The UK nuclear pipelineGridteamAI · restyled v2

Hinkley, Sizewell C, the SMR programme and the site pipeline.

UK nuclear capacity expanding from ~6 GW operational toward 9–10 GW with Hinkley Point C commissioned. Sizewell C in construction; Rolls-Royce SMR first deployment targeted early 2030s.

UK nuclear pipeline 2026–2040 · Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, Rolls-Royce SMR, Wylfa + Bradwell.
Fig. 1

UK nuclear pipeline 2026–2040 · Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, Rolls-Royce SMR, Wylfa + Bradwell.

2 · Twelve findings09
2 · Twelve findingsQ4 2028

Twelve findings. Each carries a confidence level.

HIGH — verified against a named primary source. MEDIUM — named UK industry coverage cross-referenced to a primary source. LOW — GridteamAI scenario projection, marked as such.

Hinkley Point C aerial at night — illuminated construction site, multiple cranes, dramatic dusk, 8192x5456
Hinkley Point C — the construction site, illuminated.Photo: EDF Energy press centre
  1. 01Hinkley Point C is the UK's first new nuclear plant in nearly three decades.HIGH
  2. 02Sizewell C entered construction in 2025 using the RAB financing model.HIGH
  3. 03GBE-Nuclear consolidation operationalises UK nuclear governance.HIGH
  4. 04Rolls-Royce SMR won the GBN SMR competition.HIGH
  5. 05Wylfa is the next gigawatt site in the pipeline.MEDIUM
  6. 06Bradwell is materially uncertain post UK-China reset.MEDIUM
  7. 07ONR is the independent nuclear safety regulator.HIGH
  8. 08UK nuclear workforce requires substantial scale-up.MEDIUM
  9. 09Critical minerals + nuclear supply chain interaction.MEDIUM
  10. 10Q4 2028 forward outlook depends on Sizewell C delivery + SMR programme.MEDIUM
  11. 11Three plausible scenarios for Q4 2028.MEDIUM
  12. 12Implications for stakeholders.MEDIUM