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A Bold Transatlantic Push for Nuclear Power

The United States and the United Kingdom are preparing to unveil a wave of high-value nuclear energy deals during U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain this week. The centerpiece of this initiative, dubbed the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy, is designed to transform the global nuclear industry, accelerate clean energy production, and fuel the surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centers.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the deal as a “once-in-a-generation leap” that will place both nations “at the forefront of global innovation and investment” while creating thousands of new jobs.

Massive Investments and Job Creation

Under the plan, U.S. and U.K. energy companies are expected to construct up to 12 next-generation modular nuclear reactors in Hartlepool, a key industrial port town in northeast England. According to U.S.-based X-Energy and British utility giant Centrica, the Hartlepool reactors alone could:

• Generate enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes
• Create more than 2,500 skilled jobs
• Contribute an estimated £40 billion ($54.2 billion) in total economic value

In parallel, Holtec International has announced plans to develop advanced data centers powered by small modular reactors (SMRs) in Nottinghamshire. This project, expected to cost £11 billion ($14.9 billion), will be developed jointly with EDF and Tritax, signaling a major step toward marrying nuclear power with the rapidly growing data infrastructure sector.

Why SMRs Could Reshape the Energy Landscape

SMRs are seen as a breakthrough technology because they can be built faster, cheaper, and on smaller footprints compared to conventional large-scale nuclear power plants. They also promise to deliver steady, low-carbon baseload power critical for supporting the energy-hungry data centers used to train and run massive AI systems.

Big Tech is already betting on this shift: Amazon and Google signed deals in 2023 to develop SMRs in the U.S. to meet their own ballooning energy needs, underscoring how nuclear power is becoming central to the AI-driven economy.

Aiming to Lead a “Nuclear Renaissance”

Alongside the modular and small reactor projects, the Atlantic Partnership will also include plans to establish the world’s first micro modular nuclear power plant, marking another leap in nuclear innovation.

“With President Trump’s leadership, the United States is ushering in a true nuclear renaissance — harnessing the power of commercial nuclear to meet rising energy demand and fuel the AI revolution,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on Monday.

Supporters emphasize that nuclear energy’s zero direct carbon emissions make it a crucial tool for countries striving to reduce fossil fuel reliance while maintaining reliable power supply. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that nuclear currently provides about 20% of U.S. electricity and over 50% of its carbon-free power, while the U.K. gets roughly 15% of its electricity from nuclear plants, with ambitions to double that by 2050.

Environmental Debate Persists

Despite its promise, the nuclear revival faces criticism from environmental groups who argue that it is costly, slow to deploy, and diverts attention from cheaper renewables like wind and solar. They warn of long-term waste management challenges and the high financial risks tied to nuclear megaprojects.

However, governments on both sides of the Atlantic see the new pact as a vital step to stabilize energy markets, meet net-zero targets, and strengthen national energy security, especially as global demand for electricity is set to surge by over 60% by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency.