The dilapidated location of the former Cottam power plant is set for a dramatic conversion to the first British nuclear data center campus.
The renovation of £ 11 billion is expected to create thousands of construction work and long -term specialist roles in the East Midland and a large increase in the local economy.
The Cottam project is headed by HOLTEC International, EDF and Tritax, whereby nuclear innovations are combined with the growing demand for safe, sustainable data infrastructure. The project uses small modular reactors (SMRs) to provide data centers at the location around the clock.
The announcement takes place as part of the wider UK -USA “Golden Age of Nuclear” partnership, which was signed this week to accelerate nuclear use, increase energy security and to provide the infrastructure required for the digital economy. In which Prime Minister Keir Starrer the Agreement as a “pioneering nuclear partnership in Great Britain-in Great Britain is not just about operating our houses;
The Cottam project offers a great opportunity for Nottinghamshire and the wider East Midlands. Once a large employer as a coal -fired power plant, the location again becomes an economic hub – this time for clean energy and the digital future.
- Jobs & skills: Thousands of construction work are founded together with long -term roles in operation, engineering and digital services. Local universities and training providers are expected to play a key role in Upskilling workers.
- Regional regeneration: The project will help to restore the East Midlands as the center for energy innovation and to attract investment and supply chains in the areas of derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.
- Identity shift: From coal to clean technology, the movement signals a transformation in the region's industrial identity and positions the East Midlands at the head of the Green Transition of the United Kingdom.
- Inner investment: The extent of the development of 11 billion GBP could stimulate additional infrastructure projects that increase living space, transport connections and digital connectivity in the region.
The mayor of East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “This project will be transforming for Nottinghamshire and the other East Midlands. By merging the advanced core technology with the rapidly growing digital economy, it will create thousands of high -quality jobs under construction, manufacturers and operations. Innovation in the coming decades.”
“In the East Midlands there is already first -class engineering, manufacturing and energy competence. This investment will not only deliver long -term qualified employment and attract new supply chains, but also underlines our broader ambition that the supercluster can be a magnet for research, internal investment system and technological management qualities.
This is all part of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) ambitions for the super cluster, which focuses on the three former coal -fired power plants in West Burton, Cottam and High Marnham. The super cluster, which is already in the world's leading spherical Tokamak for energy production project (STEP) fusion project (Tokamak for Seale Fusion), will attract clean energy, artificial intelligence and technology companies in the region. A new discovery center for investors, schools and members of the public to find out about the innovative work in the super cluster is built together with environmentally friendly houses, improved public transport and exciting leisure opportunities.
In the future, this project could create:
- 6,800 new houses
- 15,500 new jobs
- 930 million pounds added to the local economy per year
With the demand for AI, cloud services and high-performance computing, the data centers are under pressure to expand-but they also need large amounts of electricity. By combining SMRs with data centers, Cottam is used as a model for sustainable, energy -proof growth.
Environmental advantages are also of central importance for the plan. Kernen power operations offer reliable Baseload electricity without the carbon emissions of fossil fuels.
Simone Rossi, Managing Director of EDF in Great Britain, said: “Edf is pleased to examine this great infrastructure project that could change both the Cottam location and the broader region.
“This opens up the potential that the area will continue to play a key role in the Great Britain energy system for the coming decades.”
Dr. Rick Springman, President of Global Clean Energy Opportunities, HOLTEC, said: “Together with Edf and Tritax, we will help Britain to take on a leadership position both in the advanced nuclear use and in the global AI race.
“The SMR-300 in Cottam represent a potential 15-billion dollar project and create thousands of local jobs and at the same time support the lessons from our Palisades project into Michigan. With this use, the UK is well positioned to join a global coalition of countries that lead the SMR-300 to promote long -term economic growth. “
James Dunlop, Managing Director of Tritax Management, added: “The Cottam project is another example of the cooperation between EDF and Tritax to provide scale projects in order to accelerate the development of a significant cluster of data centers.
“This development shows how the government and private sector can work together to provide the best generation with low carbon energy with low carbon energy in order to improve the critical national infrastructure.”