In a major step towards revitalizing the UK energy sector, Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as a preferred bidder to partner with the newly renamed Great British Energy-Nuclear Small Modular Reactor (SMR).
This strategic partnership, subject to government final approval and contract signing, marks the beginning of a new era of UK nuclear energy.
Commenting on the groundbreaking partnership, UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:
“The Great Energy in the UK – Nuclear Power is in a strict competition and will now work with Rolls-Royce SMR, a priority bidder, to build the country’s first small modular reactor, creating thousands of jobs and expanding the local economy while enhancing energy security.”
SMRS: Fast, Flexible and Future Proof
Small modular reactors are a new class of nuclear technology. Unlike traditional large nuclear power plants, SMRs are built in factories using modular components, which make them faster, more scalable, and less expensive to deploy.
Usually, each produces up to 470 megawatts of electricity – enough to power the city – SMR is designed with a safety system and a smaller physical footprint.
The modular design allows SMRs to be deployed in a wider range of locations, including previous industrial or coal sites, compared to traditional nuclear reactors.
The government is also updating planning rules to speed up the construction of new nuclear sites, including SMRs, across the UK.
A clean energy vision supported by billions of people
The UK government has invested more than £2.5 billion in SMR programmes during this spending review period, forming the basis for modern industrial strategies.
Designed to support the revitalization of the UK Industrial Heartland, the project aims to create up to 3,000 skilled jobs and deliver clean, reliable electricity to around 3 million homes.
Strategic developments target the mid-2030s
Great British Energy – Nuclear, a publicly owned arm currently working in collaboration with UK Energy, is set to finalise its contract with Rolls-Royce SMR later this year.
The company also set up a development company, allocates project sites, and by the mid-2030s it will start connecting small modular reactors to the grid.
This development, along with the completion of Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, will add more nuclear power to the grid in the 2030s than the total for the past 50 years.
Great British Energy CEO – Nuclear CEO Gwen Parry Jones added:
“With selected preferred bidder, Rolls-Royce SMR, we will provide technically world-class programs when subject to government approval and contract signing, providing real value to the UK people through energy security, economic opportunity and environmental leadership.”
Global Race for SMR Leadership
The decision to choose the Rolls-Royce SMR follows a rigorous two-year competitive process that began in July 2023.
As the company approaches the final stage of its regulatory assessment, the partnership positions the UK as the forefront of the global SMR market, which the International Energy Agency predicts will be worth nearly £500 million by 2050.
This strategic move will set the stage for the UK to lead next-generation nuclear technology, enhancing energy security while reducing emissions.
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