Green light to commence construction on the Wylfa on Anglesey Nuclear Power Station that will bring 8,000 new jobs has been issued. This information was disclosed by the UK government in an announcement.

Ministers have selected Wylfa on Anglesey as the preferred site. This is after signing a £2.5bn partnership with Rolls-Royce to build it last year.

Job Creation

Also, the company claimed that the project will generate 3,000 jobs local to the Wylfa site. Furthermore, it will generate an additional 5,000 jobs nationally.

Tom Greatrex, who is the Nuclear Industry Association chief executive, stated that the move would pave the way for three small modular reactors , the UK’s first, to be built at the site.

SMRs are manufactured in a factory in modules before being assembled on-site.

Also, it is claimed the three units together will supply enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 3m homes for over six decades.

Additionally, Greatrex referred to it as “a historic step for clean power, industrial growth and skilled jobs in Wales”, stating Wylfa was a “very special site with unique strengths”.

“The sector stands ready to help make the country’s first SMR fleet a success, putting Britain at the forefront of new nuclear development,” he added.

However, the project is still subject to a final investment decision, which is expected by the turn of the decade, but after all planning and regulatory hurdles, it is hoped the SMRs will be on stream in the 2030s.

History of Wylfa and Nuclear Projects

Wylfa operated as an nuclear power station on the Anglesey coast, north west Wales, for 44 years.

It was constructed in the 1960s and first began generating electricity in 1971. The nuclear plant employed thousands of workers.

In 2015, Wylfa’s last reactor was closed down and it began the long process of being decommissioned.

There were plans for a replacement plant before the old reactor shut but these were scrapped in 2021 before new proposals came forward in 2024.

Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive, said the deal is an example of the UK government’s “golden age of new nuclear being delivered successfully with British technology”.

He added that the deal has brought “certainty” to the UK SMR programme after signing an early works agreement last year enabling the launch of site work in Czechia.

Significance of the Project

Also, Greatrex said it was a “historic step” for clean power, industrial growth and skilled jobs in Wales. This project compliments the country’s nuclear expansion project in achieving clean energy.

“It marks the beginning of a significant and exciting new phase for the project and the people of Ynys Môn,” he added.

Greatrex stated the project will bring “significant investment” to the area and across Britain, securing the “UK’s long-term supply of reliable, low-carbon power.”

Ed Miliband, UK government Energy Secretary, referred to it as a “major milestone” for Britain’s energy security.

He added: “Our clean energy mission is the only route to getting off the rollercoaster of fossil fuels and. It will allow us to take back control of our energy independence.”

Wylfa on Anglesey Nuclear Power Station Factsheet

Site Location: Wylfa, Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn), North Wales

Technology: Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

Number of Units: 3 Units

Total Capacity: Approximately 1,400 MW (1.4 GW)

Power Output: Equivalent to powering 3 million UK homes.

Project Owner: Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N)

Lead Developer: Rolls-Royce SMR

Investment: £600 million initial pact; backed by the National Wealth Fund

Job Creation: The project is expected to create 3,000 jobs during the peak construction phase. Also, it will support approximately 8,000 jobs across the UK supply chain.

Operational Life: Once live, the station is designed to operate for at least 60 years.

April 13, 2026: Rolls-Royce SMR signed a formal contract with Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N). This was to foresee the commencement of site-specific design and the ordering of long lead-time components.