Rolls-Royce SMR has been chosen as the preferred bidder to collaborate with Great British Energy – Nuclear, in developing small modular reactors (SMRs) in the UK.
This selection is pending final government approvals and the formal signing of contracts.
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The move follows a two-year assessment process by Great British Nuclear, which evaluated SMR technologies from global vendors.
The UK government’s modern Industrial Strategy aims to revitalise the country’s industrial regions, committing more than £2.5bn ($3.38bn) to the SMR programme within this Spending Review period.
This initiative is expected to create up to 3,000 new skilled jobs and generate clean energy for approximately three million homes.
Great British Nuclear, which is aligning its mission with Great British Energy to deploy clean, domestically produced power, plans to formalise the partnership with Rolls-Royce SMR later in the year through the establishment of a development company.
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By GlobalDataGreat British Nuclear CEO Gwen Parry-Jones said: “We are proud to lead this national mission. Nuclear is the cornerstone of the UK’s energy strategy, and today’s announcement will accelerate deployment.
“Together with Rolls-Royce SMR, our selected preferred bidder, and subject to government approvals and contract signature, we will deliver a programme that is technically world-class and delivers real value to the British people – through energy security, economic opportunity, and environmental leadership.”
Rolls-Royce SMR is currently in the last phase of evaluation by the domestic nuclear industry’s independent regulators.
This advancement comes after Rolls-Royce SMR’s selection by ČEZ, a European utility, to provide up to 3GW of electricity in the Czech Republic.
The UK announcement is poised to bolster Rolls-Royce SMR’s prospects in various international markets, including Sweden, where it is among the final two SMR companies being considered.
