The Wylfa Nuclear Power Plant: Is it safe?
By Mason Paterson
Is nuclear energy safe? Ever since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, that question has been a constant worry for people across the world. Recently announced, a state-of-the art and first-of-its kind nuclear power station is to be built on Anglesey in Wales, with the aim of generating power by mid-2030s. With an investment of billions of pounds of investment, it hopes to bring up to 3,000 jobs along with it.
It isn’t the first time the area has seen power stations like it. When it was created in 1971, Wylfa nuclear power station generated electricity until it was decommissioned in 2015. It was one of many Magnox-type nuclear power stations that were defueled and decommissioned across the UK due to environmental and economic concerns.
Work is due to start next year to build the UK’s first three Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear power station, with the site potentially holding up to eight in total. The SMRs are like larger reactors in function but generate less power and are significantly smaller. The station could power up to three million homes and is publicly owned by the Great British Energy-Nuclear with a backing of £2.5bn of investment from the UK government.
A large conventional reactor will generate 24 million kWh per day (or electricity for about 3.2 million homes). A small modular reactor will generate 7.2 million kWh per day (or electricity for about 970,000 homes).
Simon Bowen, chair of Great British Energy-Nuclear, said: "These first SMRs at Wylfa will lay the groundwork for a fleet-based approach to nuclear development, strengthening the UK's energy independence and bringing long-term investment to the local economy."
Kier Starmer, the Prime Minster, also showed his support for the project. He said: “Britain was once a world-leader in nuclear power, but years of neglect and inertia has meant places like Anglesey have been let down and left behind.
“Today, that changes. We’re using all the tools in our armoury – cutting red tape, changing planning laws, and backing growth – to deliver the country’s first SMR in North Wales.
“This government isn’t just reversing decline, it’s delivering thousands of future-proofed jobs, driving billions in investment and providing cheaper energy bills in the long term.
“That’s national renewal in action: powered by British talent, powered by nuclear and powered by a government that’s delivering for working people.”
The UK does not shy away from using nuclear energy, but how safe is it for the environment? According to Our World in Data, nuclear energy is one of our oldest low-carbon energy technologies; with a growing rate of use since the 1960’s. A review by Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy shows that in 2024 the world
generated 2,764.67 TWh of nuclear energy. A single terawatt (TWh) for example can power the state of California for 1.5 weeks or 100 million homes for an hour. Or, 1 TWh is the annual consumption of 150,000 people in the EU.
When considering how safe an energy source is it is best to consider three different ways it can impact human safety and the environment. Air pollution is a significant factor in determining the safety of an energy source as millions suffer every year because of it. We also consider accidents at work which happen because of mining or extracting fuels. These accidents can also happen from burning fossil fuels and biomass. The third factor to consider is greenhouse gas emissions as they are a significant cause of environmental issues.
A review by Our World in Data shows that nuclear energy generates 10% global electricity and contributes 0.03 of all deaths from accidents and air pollution; measured as deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity production. This includes disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima. This is lower than wind energy that contributes 0.04 deaths while generating 7% of all global electricity. Solar is the only energy source with a lower death and air pollution rate at 0.02, with hydropower; biomass, natural gas; oil and coal all having a higher death and air pollution rate. Coal generates 36% of global electricity while contributing 24.6 deaths per TWh of electricity production.
Nuclear energy also generates the lowest greenhouse gas emissions at 6 tonnes; measured in emissions of CO2 equivalents per gigawatt hour of electricity over the lifecycle of a power plant. One gigawatt-hour is the annual electricity consumption of 150 people in the EU. Coal generates 970 tonnes of CO2.
This is far less than all fossil fuels and shows that nuclear energy and other renewables are safer. While no energy source comes with no negative impact, it seems we consider nuclear energy to be dangerous due to highly visible but low frequency events.