It's actually happening!

OK, so I haven't been paying attention lately, but while I wasn't looking, the energy companies have actually got serious about new nuclear build in the UK.

RWE and E.On this year have set up their joint venture. They've already secured land 6 weeks ago in Anglesey for Wylfa C and in Gloucestershire for Oldbury B. They want to get the plants operating by 2020. Shame it has to take so long, but then 6 GWe is a fair chunk of electricity and the EPR (currently the favourite, but the AP-1000 could be the winner), is a sizeable specimen of criticality.

In addition it looks like RWE has got options to purchase land in West Cumbria near to Sellafield at places called Kirksanton and Braystones.

Meanwhile, EdF, which took over British Energy last year (shame but inevitable lets be honest), has its eyes on Hinkley Point and has got the backing of electrical distributor, Centrica, to press ahead.

This isn't just talk now. Wheels are actually in motion. Proper plans are being laid down. The ambitions are pretty big. I'm sure these first taste of Generation III+ will prove reliable and safe. If it can prove economic to boot in a way that the current technology in Britain didn't, then it will be the first in a wave of nuclearification.