Discussions with Rolls-Royce for SMRs in Sweden and Finland

The nuclear industry is looking to modular reactors to secure its future. With the announcement of discussions between Fortum and Rolls-Royce to build small nuclear reactors in Scandinavia, this innovative technology could soon become a reality.
RWE Clean Energy - 2023-03-21T150101.115

The Finnish energy company Fortum announced on Tuesday discussions with the British group Rolls-Royce to build small Modular Reactor (SMR) in Sweden and Finland. This announcement comes after the return of the right-wing to power in Sweden last fall, with the desire to build at least two new reactors in the Nordic country, which operates six.

Fortum and Rolls-Royce’s SMR subsidiary will jointly explore the possibilities of deploying small modular reactors (SMR) in Finland and Sweden. Rolls-Royce is looking to build its first 470-megawatt, 60-year SMR, supposedly faster to build than a larger nuclear reactor.

A similar agreement to that of Rolls-Royce was announced by Fortum with EDF last December, with discussions for both EPRs and SMRs. The Swedish state-owned group Vattenfall is also considering the construction of SMRs in Sweden.

SMRs or Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) have about 70 to 80 projects worldwide. These modular reactors, which are intended to be the future of civil nuclear power, are smaller than conventional reactors and are built in a factory, which means they can be deployed more quickly and at lower cost. The world’s first SMR, in the form of a floating power plant ship, had been commissioned in the Russian Far East in 2019.

The construction of new nuclear reactors is at the heart of current environmental issues, because nuclear power is a source of energy that does not emit greenhouse gases and is therefore less polluting than fossil fuels. However, nuclear power also raises concerns about the safety of facilities and the management of radioactive waste.

In Finland, an EPR reactor built by the French group Areva is preparing to enter into normal operation in the coming weeks after a long construction period of almost 18 years. But a nuclear reactor project built by Russia’s Rosatom has just been abandoned following the invasion of Ukraine, leaving the question of another new reactor in limbo.

In conclusion, the discussions between Fortum and Rolls-Royce for the construction of small SMRs in Sweden and Finland illustrate the growing interest in this technology in the field of nuclear energy. While large reactors have often faced delays and high costs, SMRs offer an alternative that is faster to build and more flexible in terms of capacity. With approximately 70 to 80 SMR projects worldwide, it is clear that this technology is becoming a reality for the nuclear industry.

Dans cet article :​
Articles qui pourraient vous intéresser ​

TotalEnergies: request to the courts to suspend future fossil fuel projects

Oil giant TotalEnergies is facing a coalition of NGOs and local authorities, including the cities of Paris and New York, calling for a halt to all new hydrocarbon projects worldwide. This request, deemed “unfair” by TotalEnergies, is a provisional measure pending the court’s ruling on the obligation to align the Group’s climate strategy with the Paris Agreement. The coalition cites scientific and institutional reports in support of its claim, while TotalEnergies defends its climate strategy and warns of the consequences of suspending the projects. This case illustrates the growing tensions between the oil industry and climate advocates, and could set a major legal precedent.

France: CGT accuses GRDF of discriminatory dismissals in the Paris region

The CGT denounces discriminatory dismissals at GRDF, the gas distributor. Disciplinary actions targeting unionized agents have been unveiled, with accusations of racial and gender discrimination. GRDF’s management denies these allegations, claiming that the dismissals are justified by wrongdoing. The CGT plans to mobilize and pursue legal action to challenge these decisions.

Siemens Energy plans to focus on U.S. power grids to capitalize on IRA momentum

Siemens Energy plans to strengthen its presence in the United States to seize opportunities in renewable energies and hydrogen. Favorable regulations and growing demand in these sectors are prompting the company to consider setting up local production. As the U.S. and Europe compete for investment, Siemens Energy is exploring new opportunities while ensuring a balance between the U.S. and European markets. The expansion of electrolyser capacity at the Berlin plant and the growing interest of American customers testify to the boom in commercial hydrogen projects in the United States.

RWE announces carbon capture projects to decarbonize energy in the UK

RWE, the UK’s leading electricity producer, is firmly committed to the decarbonization of energy by developing RWE’s ambitious carbon capture projects, aimed at reducing CO2 emissions, ensuring energy security and supporting the transition to cleaner energy. These initiatives demonstrate RWE’s commitment to a sustainable energy future.

Resale of thermal coal in Asia: European buyers change strategy

European buyers of thermal coal are turning to Asia to take advantage of their abundant stocks. With demand falling in Europe due to high natural gas storage and renewable energy generation, market players are looking to resell their coal on the Asian market.

Édition