Plans for floating power plant and nuclear reactor

The Humber Estuary could get a floating power station and possibly a small nuclear reactor to generate energy.

Yorkshire Energy Park near Saltend has signed an agreement to look at mooring a "power barge" on the water that would use liquefied natural gas (LNG) to produce electricity.

The deal would also explore building a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) which generates heat from nuclear material to produce power.

Yorkshire Energy Park said the proposed project would "address critical energy shortages currently facing UK industrial regions".

"Grid connection delays can stretch into the 2030s," a spokesperson said

"These delays are, in turn, leading to postponed and sometimes cancelled major investment decisions in crucial industries such as AI, advanced manufacturing and cyber security, all vital for the UK's economic growth and security."

If it goes ahead, the park hopes to produce power from the LNG barge by 2028.

Last month, the government signed a £2.5bn deal with Rolls Royce to develop and build the UK's first SMRs.

There is much excitement about the potential of small modular reactors or SMR's to help address our energy needs.

The Government says this developing nuclear technology offers a new golden age of nuclear in the UK

One of the UK's best known brands, Rolls Royce, has already been selected to build the country's first small modular reactors.

SMR's use a process called fission to generate heat from nuclear material. A typical reactor can produce enough energy to power about 300,000 homes.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency there are about 80 SMR's in development around the world

But SMR's use radioactive material and there have been concerns about its safety as an energy source and how it is disposed of

Proponents of SMR technology say it offers relatively cheap, clean and reliable power.

The hope is that an SMR in the Humber will attract industry and inward investment.

Hull East MP Karl Turner said he was working with government and industry to "support this effort".

"The Humber has always been a national asset and with the right investment, it can now become a cornerstone of Britain's clean energy future," he said

"It represents the kind of bold, regionally anchored project that creates skilled jobs, strengthens resilience, and drives growth where it's most needed."

Chris Turner, chairman of the Yorkshire Energy Park, said: "Working with UK and international financial and technology partners offers a unique opportunity for the Humber to benefit from large-scale, long-term energy investment that will support new advanced manufacturing industries and skilled job creation on the Humber."

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