Canadian Investment Supercharges Sizewell C Nuclear Project
The UK's push for cleaner, more reliable energy just got a big shot in the arm. La Caisse, one of Canada’s financial heavyweights, has agreed to invest a massive £1.7 billion for a 20% chunk of the bold Sizewell C nuclear power station. This isn’t just a one-off bet—La Caisse aims to roll out £8 billion into the UK's energy transition over the next five years, signaling strong confidence in British infrastructure and energy policies.
Sitting on the Suffolk coast, Sizewell C is more than another construction site. It's one of the UK's most ambitious energy projects, with an eye-watering £38 billion price tag and backing from serious players. The UK government takes the lead with a hefty 44.9% share. EDF, the French energy group known for its nuclear know-how, is on board with 12.5%. Centrica, investing £1.3 billion for 15%, and infrastructure experts Amber Infrastructure with 7.6%, round out the group. Together, these investors represent both public and private muscle behind the UK’s energy strategy.
What Sizewell C Means for the Future of UK Energy
With Sizewell C, the UK wants to secure its energy future. The project will build two cutting-edge EPR reactors designed to deliver a combined 3.2 GW of electricity. Replicating the model of the Hinkley Point C reactors under construction in Somerset, these units could power around six million homes—enough juice to make a real dent in the country’s carbon emissions while ensuring the lights stay on.
Why now? Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent energy prices flying and highlighted how vulnerable countries are when they rely on foreign gas. Since then, the UK has doubled down on beefing up homegrown energy, especially with nuclear, which provides steady power regardless of the weather. Sizewell C is a cornerstone of an ambitious national plan to quadruple nuclear capacity to 24 GW by 2050, aiming to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and create thousands of jobs in the process.
La Caisse’s move fits perfectly with its larger playbook—finding long-term, stable investments in solid infrastructure. The pension fund has a solid track record in big global energy deals, so its stake in Sizewell C is more than just a financial commitment. It’s also a vote of confidence in the UK's path toward a greener, more resilient energy system.
With so much capital and expertise now locked in, all eyes are on the Sizewell C development as it races toward opening in the mid-to-late 2030s. If everything goes to plan, the project won’t just change how the UK powers its grid—it’ll set the stage for what large-scale nuclear energy looks like in a world that’s serious about meeting climate targets.