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.

Partagez:

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.

Uranium spot price hits its highest level of 2025 following a significant fundraising announcement by a specialized Canadian investment fund, prompting vigorous trading and strong reactions in the international market.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced being close to an intergovernmental agreement with Washington for Westinghouse to build a 1,250-megawatt nuclear reactor at the Jaslovske Bohunice site.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will meet Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg this week to discuss civil nuclear cooperation, defence, and security, marking a significant milestone in their bilateral economic and strategic relations.
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant remains immobilised by armed conflict, dependent on a single fragile power line and groundwater wells to cool its reactors, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Russia declares itself ready to retrieve and transform Iran’s excess nuclear materials into fuel, a proposal aimed at easing tense nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States.
The Moscow Arbitration Court postpones by nine months the trial initiated by Rosatom against Fortum and Outokumpu, seeking nearly three billion dollars following the controversial cancellation of a nuclear project in Finland.
The UK regulator has accepted to examine Newcleo’s advanced LFR-AS-200 reactor, marking a first for a modular lead-cooled technology in the country.
Framatome strengthens its control over the nuclear supply chain by acquiring a 40% stake in Selectarc, France’s sole producer of welding filler metals.
The UK government has selected Rolls-Royce SMR to lead the deployment of small modular reactors, aiming to secure 24 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050.
Orano USA has opened a new office in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to lead the development of a uranium enrichment facility, marking one of the largest industrial investments in the state’s history.
AtkinsRéalis and EDF signed a strategic agreement to integrate their expertise in nuclear engineering, equipment and waste management, while preserving each country’s technological sovereignty.
The British government officially commits £14.2 billion to develop two EPR nuclear reactors in eastern England, in strategic partnership with the French group EDF, with a final investment decision expected shortly.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that confidential documents were acquired by Iran, raising concerns about the country’s cooperation with the agency.
A new law extends the operational lifespan of nuclear reactors in Japan, enabling them to run past 60 years to meet rising energy demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Westinghouse plans to invest $75 billion in ten nuclear reactors in the United States, responding to a presidential order aimed at significantly accelerating the expansion of nuclear energy in the country by 2030.
The United States blocks export licenses for nuclear equipment to China, amplifying bilateral trade tensions already marked by strategic technology restrictions and possible retaliatory measures.
Russia requests IAEA intervention to resolve the deadlock involving American nuclear fuel at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, a critical issue for the potential restart of the site currently under Russian control.
NANO Nuclear Energy has appointed Intel executive and former U.S. Department of Energy leader Seth Berl as an independent director to support its strategy in advanced nuclear technologies.
The Cour des comptes is calling on the French government to speed up efforts to locate storage sites for over 280,000 m³ of long-lived radioactive waste, which currently lacks an operational solution.
The French National Assembly’s Economic Affairs Committee mistakenly rejects a crucial article on France's nuclear strategy, causing significant parliamentary confusion and casting doubt on the country’s energy targets.