Projections that more of Britain’s electricity in 2019 will be generated from zero-carbon sources than fossil fuels for the first time since the industrial revolution represent a huge step, but “hitting the government’s new ambitious target of reaching net zero by 2050, means we’ve got to go even further”, Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the UK’s Nuclear Industry Association, said.

Mr Greatrex said every form of low-carbon electricity generation needs to pull its weight, especially if Britain is to power its heating and transport needs with more electricity.

He said: “In the UK’s first ever week without coal-fired power in May of this year, nuclear supplied over 50% of the UK’s domestically generated clean electricity.