Penultimate Power has formed a joint venture with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency to build a small modular reactor . Based on a design used in Japan since 1998 that is deemed safer than traditional nuclear plants , the 10 MW , high - temperature , gas - cooled reactor will be located in the northeast of England and will generate power and process heat for heavy industry . “Now we’re talking about distributed nuclear generation.” Set for construction in the next four years upon approval from Japan , the £ 500 m ( $ 650 m ) project has international investors but also requires government backing . The JV is also considering building a factory to produce modular reactors for wider UK use .
Penultimate Power has formed a joint venture with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency to build a small modular reactor . Based on a design used in Japan since 1998 that is deemed safer than traditional nuclear plants , the 10 MW , high - temperature , gas - cooled reactor will be located in the northeast of England and will generate power and process heat for heavy industry . Set for construction in the next four years upon approval from Japan , the £ 500 m ( $ 650 m ) project has international investors but also requires government backing . The JV is also considering building a factory to produce modular reactors for wider UK use .