UK Electricity Needs: Nuclear Power Proposed as Cost-Effective Solution at Half NHS Annual Budget

A recent analysis suggests that the United Kingdom could fulfill its entire electricity requirements through nuclear power for an investment equivalent to approximately 50% of the National Health Service's (NHS) annual budget. The proposition, highlighted by James Clark on social media, positions nuclear energy as a significant "silver bullet" for climate policy.

"There aren't many silver bullets in climate policy, but for the UK, 'just build nuclear' is just that," Clark stated in the tweet. He further elaborated, "If the UK paid Kepco $6bn per 1Gw plant (what they charged Czechia) the UK could meet its entire electricity needs for roughly 50% of the NHS annual budget."

The UK's annual electricity consumption was approximately 266 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2023. The NHS annual budget for 2023/24 was projected to be around £165 billion. To meet the country's electricity demand, a significant number of 1 GW nuclear plants would be required.

The cost estimate cited in the tweet, $6 billion per 1 GW plant, refers to a deal between Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) and Czechia. In 2024, Kepco submitted a bid to build up to four nuclear reactors in Czechia, with initial reports suggesting a total value that could reach tens of billions of dollars for the full project. This figure aligns with the cost per gigawatt mentioned in the tweet.

The UK government has expressed a commitment to expanding nuclear power, aiming for up to 24 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050 as part of its energy security strategy and net-zero targets. Current operational nuclear capacity in the UK is approximately 6.8 GW. This ambitious goal underscores a strategic shift towards nuclear as a reliable, low-carbon energy source to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and intermittent renewables.