Rolls-Royce SMR selected to develop UK’s first modular nuclear reactors

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.

Share:

After a two-year competition overseen by the public entity Great British Nuclear, recently renamed Great British Energy – Nuclear, Rolls-Royce SMR has been chosen as the preferred technology to develop the first Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the United Kingdom. The decision comes as the UK targets the expansion of its nuclear capacity to 24 GW by 2050, combining large-scale power plants with modular installations.

A structured selection process

The tender, launched in July 2023, initially shortlisted six companies. Four – GE Hitachi, Holtec International, Rolls-Royce SMR and Westinghouse – entered final negotiations. By April, only three submitted final tenders, with Westinghouse withdrawing. The UK government plans to sign a contract with Rolls-Royce SMR by the end of the year, as well as allocate a site and begin grid connection by the mid-2030s. A final investment decision is scheduled for 2029.

Advanced validation stage for the technology

The Rolls-Royce SMR model is based on a 470 MWe pressurised water reactor, designed to provide steady baseload power for 60 years. Around 90% of the unit will be built in factory conditions, limiting on-site risks and potentially shortening construction schedules. It is the only SMR design currently in the final stage of the Generic Design Assessment, conducted by the Office for Nuclear Regulation, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales.

Domestic rollout and European ambitions

Rolls-Royce SMR stated that three units would be enough to stimulate national industrial growth, generating thousands of skilled jobs and strengthening the local supply chain. The company has already been selected by Czech utility ČEZ for a 3 GW project and is among the final two candidates in Sweden’s SMR selection process.

Industry reactions and impact on competitors

Holtec International, one of the unsuccessful bidders, announced it would scale back its factory project in South Yorkshire, citing impacts on jobs and project timelines. The company said it would now focus on partnerships with private sector actors in the UK and internationally.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed a public investment of GBP14.2bn ($19.2bn) for the Sizewell C large-scale nuclear project, which will feature two EPR reactors developed in partnership with EDF. Wylfa in North Wales is also under consideration as a future nuclear site, potentially hosting either a gigawatt-scale plant or multiple SMRs, according to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

French start-up Stellaria secures €23mn ($25.2mn) in funding to accelerate the design of its fast neutron nuclear reactor, with first fission expected in 2029 and commercial deployment targeted for 2035.
The Bulgarian National Audit Office report highlights persistent delays and contractual irregularities in the implementation of the national repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste.
Bahrain has concluded a civil nuclear agreement with the United States and formalised a commitment of $17bn in public investments in the US market, further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Kairos Power has installed the vessel for its third test prototype in Oak Ridge, aiming to validate manufacturing methods for its future Hermes reactor supported by the US Department of Energy.
London and Prague formalise a strategic partnership to develop the nuclear sector, focusing on small modular reactors and industrial cooperation on supply chains.
Experts have broadly approved France’s Cigéo deep nuclear waste repository project, highlighting technical uncertainties that demand stronger guarantees for long-term safety.
Uzbekistan advances its nuclear project by signing a protocol with Hungary for the supply and local assembly of dry cooling systems, expanding its industrial partnerships in the region.
Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe is asking the European Commission to review its $49bn investment to build Poland’s first nuclear power plant, a step required under the Euratom Treaty before any construction permit can be issued.
The International Atomic Energy Agency mission completed on July 11 warns that the National Nuclear Safety Administration must hire staff to oversee a fleet of 59 reactors in operation and 32 more under construction.
Energoatom signed strategic agreements with Westinghouse and Holtec at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, aiming to establish nuclear fuel production and small modular reactor capabilities in the country.
Tehran agrees to reopen its nuclear facilities to the IAEA, aiming to resume negotiations with Washington, while Moscow pushes for a “zero enrichment” agreement without getting involved in supervision.
TerraPower has selected three new American suppliers for its advanced Natrium nuclear reactor, confirming progress on the project located in Kemmerer, Wyoming, intended to replace a retiring coal-fired power plant.
Energy Exploration Technologies acquires Daytona Lithium, an Australian subsidiary of Pantera Lithium, for AUD40mn ($27mn), bringing its strategic lithium basin footprint in Smackover, USA to nearly 50,000 acres.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has identified no major barriers to licensing the ARC-100 reactor, announces ARC Clean Technology.
SE Ignalina, the Lithuanian nuclear operator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with French firm Newcleo to explore the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs) using lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology in Lithuania.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi oversaw the signing of new agreements for the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant, thus strengthening the strategic cooperation between Egypt and Russia.
Vistra Corp receives green light to extend Perry nuclear plant operations in Ohio by 20 years, securing regional electricity supply until 2046 and ensuring operational continuity for all its nuclear reactors in the United States.
EDF will hold a 12.5% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear project in the UK, a €1.3 billion investment announced during Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to London, confirming the strategic nuclear energy alignment between the two countries.
The French Cigéo project, designed to bury the most hazardous radioactive waste deep underground, obtains a crucial technical validation before its final authorization, expected by the end of 2027.
EDF confirms the continuation of its industrial project in Fessenheim for recycling very low-level radioactive metals, a first in France requiring specific regulatory authorizations, following a public debate concluded last February.