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Nuclear power in the United Kingdom generated 16.1% of the country's electricity in 2020. [1] As of August 2022, the UK has 9 operational nuclear reactors at five locations (8 advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR) and one pressurised water reactor (PWR)), producing 5.9 GWe. [2]
Not renewing Trident meant that Britain would become a non-nuclear power and strike at Britain's status as a great power. [289] A decision on the renewal of Trident was made on 4 December 2006. Prime Minister Tony Blair told MPs it would be "unwise and dangerous" for the UK to give up its nuclear weapons. He outlined plans to spend up to £20bn ...
Under the agreement the United States was given certain assurances by the UK regarding the use of the missiles; however the United States does not have any veto on the use of British nuclear weapons. [9] [10] Some non-nuclear components for the British nuclear warhead are procured from the U.S. for reasons of cost effectiveness. [11]
[17] [18] The US also supplied the Royal Air Force and British Army of the Rhine with nuclear weapons under Project E in the form of aerial bombs, missiles, depth charges and artillery shells until 1992. [19] [20] Nuclear-capable American aircraft have been based in the UK since 1949, [21] but the last US nuclear weapons were withdrawn in 2006 ...
The move is intended to cement the UK's status as a nuclear power and a US defence ally. [86] [87] Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer, although supporting nuclear deterrence, criticised the new policy and questioned why Prime Minister Boris Johnson believed that increasing the stockpile was necessary.
The advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) is a type of nuclear reactor designed and operated in the United Kingdom. These are the second generation of British gas-cooled reactors, using graphite as the neutron moderator and carbon dioxide as coolant. They have been the backbone of the UK's nuclear power generation fleet since the 1980s.
Nuclear power's contribution to global energy production was about 4% in 2023. This is a little more than wind power, which provided 3.5% of global energy in 2023. [167] Nuclear power's share of global electricity production has fallen from 16.5% in 1997, in large part because the economics of nuclear power have become more difficult. [168]
Nuclear power stations in England. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy produce annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKE) reports which provides information on all UK major power producers.