Nuclear Investment Surge Set for Britain as US Tech Giants Seek Power for AI Push

JD Vance, the United States vice-president, has placed Britain at the centre of a coming wave of nuclear investment, following private discussions with major American nuclear companies during his recent visit to Scotland. Vance, who combined talks with a round of golf at Turnberry, met executives from Westinghouse, GE Hitachi, X-energy, Holtec International and TerraPower, the company founded by Bill Gates. These companies are driving a new era of nuclear infrastructure intended to power Britain’s burgeoning artificial intelligence sector.

The meeting, originally set for just twenty minutes, ran twice as long, illustrating the depth of opportunity under consideration for collaboration. Less than two weeks remain before Donald Trump’s state visit to London and anticipation is high that the White House aims to announce significant US-UK energy deals during the visit. American firms are lobbying to lead in the construction of nuclear power stations as well as data centres tailored for AI, with the intention of making Britain a hub for both industries.

Among the projects discussed, Westinghouse is advancing plans for a large-scale nuclear plant at Wylfa, Anglesey. The proposal includes as many as four commercial reactors, expected to deliver close to five gigawatts, powering millions of homes. Meanwhile, X-energy, backed by Amazon, is pursuing agreements to construct a pilot advanced modular reactor at Hartlepool, with prospects for expanding to as many as ten mini-nuclear sites nationwide. Both ventures are seeking a mixture of government support—ranging from minimum revenue guarantees and feasibility funding, to reforms within planning regulation that would facilitate building near urban locations.

Silicon Valley’s biggest players now view nuclear energy as an indispensable component of the UK energy mix, recognising its unique ability to deliver stable clean power at the scale demanded by modern data centres. UK government insiders confirm that joint efforts around nuclear are being explored on both sides of the Atlantic, with an eye towards satisfying the enormous electricity appetite expected from AI and advanced computing infrastructure.

The British government, while non-committal on specific deals, points to an ongoing transformation in energy policy, marked by record investment in Sizewell C and the advancing of small modular reactors. Lord Mandelson, the ambassador to Washington, has recently hinted at a broader array of agreements on the table, including collaborative efforts in AI, quantum computing and defence, which could further elevate British and American industrial ingenuity on the world stage.

Competition for the Wylfa site remains robust, as it is under consideration not only for the American-led proposal but also as a testbed for the first UK-designed mini-nuclear plants from Rolls-Royce, scheduled for completion by the mid 2030s. The government maintains that any decision will hinge on credible private investment and clear financial guarantees from the companies involved, a stance that underscores the government’s commitment to both rigour and innovation in shaping the nation’s future energy landscape.