Atombridge - Strengthening the UK-US Special Civil Nuclear Relationship
Stonehaven
Dozens of new nuclear reactors could be built across the UK and US under a proposed civil nuclear bilateral agreement, providing reliable power for high-energy industries like data centres and renewable fuel production. According to a new transatlantic report, the agreement could drive down costs, accelerate deployment, and strengthen energy security in both nations.
The research, undertaken by London-based research and strategy consultancy Stonehaven and Washington DC-based public policy think tank Third Way, presents findings from in-depth interviews with C-Suite leaders, policymakers, and nuclear industry experts on both sides of the Atlantic.
The report – ‘Strengthening the UK/US Special Civil Nuclear Relationship’ responds to the high cost, regulatory barriers, and financial hurdles that currently make the UK and US the most expensive countries in the world to build new nuclear power stations.
The report includes a series of recommended conditions for the creation of a successful bilateral:
- A transatlantic SMR and Gen IV reactor programme, pooling demand for a limited number of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) designs to reduce costs and accelerate approvals
- A shared orderbook and supply chain strategy, creating a joint procurement model to enhance economies of scale and workforce mobility
- Export credit and financial backing, aligning UK and US export credit financing to de-risk investment and support deployment in third-country markets
- Regulatory streamlining, developing a framework for mutual recognition of licencing approvals to avoid duplication and reduce project delays
- Tariff-free trade and secure fuel supply, aligning trade policies to ensure cost-effective access to nuclear materials while reducing cost dependencies on Russia and China
The US and UK’s long-standing civil nuclear partnership dates back to the Manhattan Project, when British scientists played a pivotal role in nuclear development. In the decades that followed, the two nations led the world in nuclear energy, with the UK opening the world’s first civil nuclear station at Calder Hall in 1956, and the US following with Shippingport Atomic Power Station in 1958.
However, despite their leadership in nuclear innovation, neither country has built a new nuclear power plant in over 30 years. Today, both face rising energy demands and a growing need for secure, clean power, particularly as AI and data centre energy use surges.
Rapid adoption of a new bilateral agreement could unlock efficiencies, potentially leading to 20-40% cost reductions in electricity produced, create tens of thousands of high-skilled jobs, and boost exports by positioning the UK and US as leaders in SMR and Gen IV deployment.
Josh MacAlister MP, Energy Select Committee Member and Co-Chair of the Nuclear Energy APPG, said:
“The UK and US have long been partners in nuclear innovation, and now is the moment to renew that collaboration. Both nations face growing energy demands and the urgent need for new nuclear deployment. By working together, we can accelerate development, drive down costs, and unlock major economic benefits. A strong UK-US partnership in nuclear energy isn’t just an opportunity—it’s a necessity to deliver the reliable, homegrown power that both our countries need.”
Abby Sinclair, Energy Policy Consultant at Stonehaven, said:
“This report confirms what we’ve known for a long time – that repeatedly trying to create artificial competition within domestic markets has done little to advance nuclear deployment. The result has been rising costs and project stagnation. Now, it's time for allies to take decisive action together. By coordinating strategies, streamlining approvals, and pooling demand, we can finally break the cycle of delays and secure the learning rates needed to drive costs down. This is a once in a generation opportunity to build on the projects we now have underway, and finally scale nuclear at pace.”
Alan Ahn, Deputy Director for Nuclear for Third Way’s Climate and Energy Program, said:
“The global nuclear landscape is shifting fast, with other nations aggressively expanding their nuclear capabilities. If the US and UK want to maintain leadership in advanced nuclear technologies and seize export opportunities, we need to act now. A bilateral agreement wouldn’t just be about energy security – it would position both nations as premier suppliers of next-generation reactors to a world increasingly seeking clean, reliable power.”
Chris Conboy, Managing Director Nuclear EMEA at AtkinsRéalis, said:
“This is a game-changer for the nuclear industry. Aligning regulatory frameworks, financial incentives, and supply chain strategies between the US and UK will dramatically improve the economic case for new nuclear. We’re talking about reducing costs, accelerating deployment, and ensuring that both countries remain at the forefront of innovation in small modular and advanced reactor technologies. This agreement has the potential to unlock a new era of nuclear investment and industrial growth.”
Researchers identified three key policy areas for focus in a new bilateral agreement: access to capital and regulation, energy security, and economic growth.
The findings come in the wake of the US-UK Civil Nuclear Agreement signed in November 2024 and domestic policy initiatives such as the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Programme (US), and UK SMR competition launched by the UK government.
Read the full report below.
