This article is a contribution to the NNWI Conference 2026: Powering Industrial Decarbonisation.
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“Net zero needs nuclear” – the adage has been around for a while but it’s now becoming a reality. Over the last few years, the conversation on the role of nuclear in net zero and decarbonisation targets has shifted from just power to the grid to the role that Small and Advanced Modular Reactors (SMRs and AMRs) can play in directly supporting industrial processes in hard-to-abate sectors. At Assystem, our mission is to help accelerate the global energy transition, and as one of the leading independent nuclear engineering companies we’re supporting reactor vendors, developers and industrial off-takers to help achieve this.
These industrial processes, such as steel, chemical and hydrogen production, require sustained high-temperature heat, typically provided by fossil fuel-derived energy. The AMR designs now coming to market, such as High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors, can deliver outlet temperatures up to 900°C. This opens opportunities to use nuclear heat directly to support industrial processes like the production of green hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuels, while avoiding the thermodynamic losses associated with electricity generation.
Further advances in nuclear technology, such as Accident Tolerant Fuels, are reducing the already low likelihood of severe accidents and, importantly, limiting their potential consequences. This strengthens overall safety of the nuclear power plant and opens more flexible siting options, including locations closer to industrial users and population centres.
Siting AMRs near demand centres enables the development of integrated industrial clusters, with nuclear acting as a reliable anchor energy source. In this model, the reactor supplies consistent low-carbon heat and power, while nearby consumers provide a stable, long-term customer base. This mutual dependency not only improves energy efficiency and reduces emissions; the ready-made customer base strengthens the investment case for the nuclear power plant by helping to secure upfront financing.
In the UK context, regions such as the Humber industrial cluster present a particularly compelling opportunity for this model. As one of the country’s most carbon-intensive industrial areas, with a concentration of refineries, chemical plants and emerging hydrogen projects, the Humber combines existing infrastructure, skilled workforce and strong decarbonisation ambition. Deploying AMRs in such a region could accelerate emissions reductions across existing industries and catalyse new value chains, helping to rejuvenate the regional economy while positioning the UK as a leader in clean industrial innovation.
Achieving net-zero is about much more than just power-to-grid; supporting the decarbonisation of industry and other hard-to-abate sectors is critical and the SMR and AMR technologies coming to market present a significant opportunity to help realise this.
