ABOUT CWMNI EGINO
Cwmni Egino was set up by the Welsh Government in 2021 to deliver the Trawsfynydd Site Development Programme and build on the work of the Snowdonia Enterprise Zone. In line with the Site Development Programme, the company’s core purpose is to create sustainable job opportunities and promote economic and social regeneration by driving development at the former nuclear power station site in Trawsfynydd.
Our vision is that Trawsfynydd will be confirmed as the site of the first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) under construction in the UK; North Wales will be recognised as a centre of excellence for low carbon energy; and people’s quality of life will be improved.
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A Welsh word meaning ‘to germinate’. This represents Cwmni Egino’s role in growing the concept of a new nuclear development at Trawsfynydd and turning it into a deliverable project. A lot of work has to be done before any visible development can happen on the site; just as a seed planted in the ground needs to be nurtured and the right conditions created before green shoots appear.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are smaller versions of traditional nuclear reactor technologies that can operate flexibly on smaller sites – like Trawsfynydd. The UK aims to develop SMRs to be deployed quickly to supply heat and power.
SMRs could potentially be cheaper and have a far lower delivery time than conventional large reactors. Manufactured in a factory, complete components (modules) are transported to the site for final assembly. SMRs will provide clean, flexible, secure electricity, as well as create high quality jobs, regional and national growth and regeneration, export opportunities and a new skills and research and development base.
There are many different designs of SMRs currently being developed, producing between 20 and 470 MW of electricity. Some of these designs can be adapted to supply heat as well. In terms of output they are comparable to the two former reactors at the original Trawsfynydd power station, but are generally smaller in size.
DEVELOPING THE TRAWSFYNYDD PROJECT
Trawsfynydd presents the first, most credible site-focussed opportunity to kick start a long-term programme of SMR projects in the UK, and Cwmni Egino provides a development vehicle to take the project forward. We are on track to be one of the projects ready for approval by the latter part of the decade, in line with the UK Government’s energy security priorities.
We are developing the project in 3 phases, leading to a Final Investment Decision (FID) and approval to build at the end of Phase 3:
- Building and promoting the case for Trawsfynydd: defining and explaining the opportunity of a new nuclear project at the site and the potential to drive economic growth locally, regionally, Wales- and UK-wide, as well as demonstrate that the project is viable.
- Project design: further project development, including tecnology selection, site characterisation, environmental studies, engineering development, socio-economic plan, extensive stakeholder and community engagement, organisational development and preparation of consents and licence applications.
- Prepare for construction: submit consent and permit applications; procure key contracts; enable preliminary site works; and secure finance for construction.
The first phase of work has confirmed that the project is viable, and Cwmni Egino is now ready to enter the second phase, involving more detailed project development.
Development of new nuclear projects is complex and takes time. There are many components that need to be in place before a nuclear power station can be built and start generating electricity. Cwmni Egino is working to bring all the pieces together to enable the successful delivery of an SMR project at Trawsfynydd.
We will continue to engage the Welsh and UK Governments, regional stakeholders, industry partners and local communities to make sure that the project is designed and delivered in a way that secures the maximum social, economic and environmental benefits for decades to come.
