The UK nuclear sector risks falling behind unless sustainability becomes central to investment, delivery and public trust, according to a report by the Next Generation Nuclear Industry Council (NGNIC).

The expansion of Britain’s nuclear energy capabilities are considered to be a key part of the long-term decarbonisation of the UK’s energy grid. Last year energy secretary Ed Miliband said the government aims to kickstart the “golden age” of nuclear energy. 

Amid this increased government investment and Rolls‑Royce SMR’s recent deal to deliver the UK’s first three small modular reactors (SMRs) at Wylfa, the NGNIC argues that sustainability should be seen as an opportunity, not as an additional burden.

Its report – Sustainability in the nuclear sector – sets out how the industry can strengthen its contribution to environmental, social and economic sustainability as the sector enters a new era of growth and investment.

It argues that sustainability must become a strategic enabler for the nuclear sector – going beyond compliance and carbon reduction alone – to strengthen business performance, improve resilience, support investment and build public confidence in the nuclear sector.

Arun Khuttan, co-chair of the NGNIC and sustainability manager at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, said: “The nuclear sector has a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership not only through delivering secure low-carbon energy and national security, but through the wider environmental and social value it creates for communities and future generations. 

“This report sets out how sustainability can become a consistent and value-adding part of how the sector delivers today and into the future.”

Developed through engagement with sustainability professionals, senior leaders, government representatives, NGOs and industry stakeholders across civil and defence nuclear, the report highlights growing momentum across the sector, including the integration of nuclear into sustainable finance frameworks and increasing investor focus on environmental, social and governance performance.

However, it also identifies key challenges, including resource constraints, inconsistent reporting standards, cultural resistance and compliance-led approaches that can limit wider sustainability progress.

Among the report’s recommendations are calls for:

• Greater collaboration across the sector on sustainability priorities
• Stronger engagement with local communities in decision-making
• Improved integration of sustainability into engineering, procurement and project delivery
• Better alignment of metrics, reporting and governance
• Increased investment in skills, innovation and climate resilience.

Professor Pete Bryant, CEO of the World Nuclear Transport Institute and Professor at the University of Liverpool, who wrote the report foreword, said: “As new nuclear projects, SMRs, micro-reactors and innovation continue to progress, sustainability must be embedded at the sector’s core. This is not about compliance alone, but about reducing environmental impacts, strengthening relationships with communities and creating long-term societal value alongside clean power.”

Chris Hocknell, director of sustainability consultancy Eight Versa, said: “The case for broader sustainability across the nuclear sector is crystal clear. A decarbonised, abundant and competitive economy cannot run on renewable power alone. Nuclear is the only dependable low-carbon technology that can deliver at scale, with the reliability and consistency modern economies require. It’s time to move beyond ‘greenwishing’ and focus on building the most holistically sustainable technology we have.”