Nuclear energy can have a significant role in helping the UK meet its target of net zero by 2050, but there is an urgent need for a decision on construction of a UK-sited high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) demonstration unit, a report by the University of Manchester Dalton Nuclear Institute says.

Nuclear energy’s role can include firm electricity generation by Generation III+ reactors and small modular reactors, the evaluation of excess heat for district heating and the generation of hydrogen using high temperature nuclear heat.

The report says the case for examining the construction of a UK-sited demonstration HTGR is persuasive. A key recommendation in the report says the state of development of UK and world advanced modular reactor technology affirms that a demonstration reactor mentioned in an energy white paper should feature HTGR technology, with major consideration also paid to demonstrating hydrogen generation using nuclear heat.