Referral of National Nuclear Laboratory Ltd subsidy by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

The Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) has accepted a request for a report from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) concerning a proposed subsidy to the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) Ltd.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
25 July 2023
Case type:
SAU referral
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Agriculture, environment and natural resources
Opened:
3 May 2023
Closed:
15 June 2023

The Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) has accepted a request for a report from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) concerning a proposed subsidy to the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) Ltd.

SAU referral type Mandatory referral
SAU referral state Closed
Sector (s) Manufacturing
SAU referral opened 3 May 2023

Administrative timetable

Date Action
15 June 2023 SAU’s report to be published
18 May 2023 Deadline for receipt of any third-party submissions (submissions after 5pm on this date cannot be taken into account)
3 May 2023 Beginning of reporting period

Final report

15 June 2023: The SAU has published its report providing advice to DESNZ concerning the proposed subsidy to the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). The report sets out our evaluation of DESNZ’s Assessment of Compliance of its proposed scheme with the requirements set out in the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Request from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

4 May 2023: The SAU has accepted a request for a report from DESNZ concerning the proposed subsidy to the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) Ltd. This request relates to a Subsidy of Particular Interest.

The SAU will prepare a report, which will provide an evaluation of the DESNZ assessment of whether the scheme complies with the subsidy control requirements (Assessment of Compliance). The SAU will complete its report within 30 working days.

Information about the scheme provided by DESNZ

DESNZ is funding the acceleration of domestic Coated Particle Fuel (CPF), TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) technology, through a direct award to single source vendor – the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) limited. The scheme will be a Research & Development funded stream to support the development and demonstration of a sovereign manufacturing capability. The programme will award up to £21.5 million of Government funding to deliver this programme by March 2025, complementary to the Advanced Modular Reactor Research, Development and Demonstration Programme (AMR RD&D) Phase B Reactor work. The programme will build upon previous Government investments to solidify energy security for the UK and invest within the UK nuclear sector.

Information for third parties

If you wish to comment on matters relevant to the SAU’s evaluation of the Assessment of Compliance concerning the NNL, please send your comments before 5pm on the date stipulated in the timetable above. For guidance on representations relevant to the Assessment of Compliance, see the section on reporting period and transparency in the Operation of the subsidy control functions of the Subsidy Advice Unit.

Please send your submission to us at SAU-NationalNuclearLaboratory2023@cma.gov.uk copying the public authority: nuclearinnovation@beis.gov.uk

Please also provide a contact address and explain in what capacity you are making the submission (for example, as an individual or a representative of a business or organisation).

Notes to third parties wishing to make a submission:

  1. The SAU will only take your submission into account if it can be shared with DESNZ. The SAU will send a copy of your submission to DESNZ together with its report. This is to allow the public authority to take account of the submission in its decision as to whether to grant or modify the scheme or its assessment. We therefore ask that you provide express consent for your full and unredacted submission to be shared. We also encourage you to share your submission directly with DESNZ using the email address provided above.

  2. The SAU may use the information you provide in its published report. Therefore, you should indicate in your submission whether any specified parts of it are commercially confidential. If the SAU wishes to refer in its published report to material identified as confidential, it will contact you in advance.
  3. For further details on confidentiality of third-party submissions, see identifying confidential information in the Operation of the subsidy control functions of the Subsidy Advice Unit.

Contacts

Published 25 July 2023
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