Rolls-Royce SMR Development
UK-wide (development and potential deployment sites like Wylfa) · Development ongoing (selected as UK's preferred technology in 2025) · £600m (UK government investment), £52bn (estimated economic benefit by 2050)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchRolls-Royce SMR was selected as the UK's preferred technology for SMR deployment, signifying a major commitment to this new nuclear approach. - The project aims to revolutionize nuclear construction by moving from bespoke, on-site builds to standardized, factory-manufactured modules. - Significant government investment underscores the strategic importance of SMRs for future energy security and decarbonization. - The development of SMRs is seen as a way to reduce construction costs and timelines compared to traditional large-scale nuclear plants.
Key engineering challenges
Developing a standardized, factory-built Small Modular Reactor design for rapid deployment. - Achieving regulatory approval and licensing for a new reactor technology. - Establishing a robust supply chain and manufacturing capability for SMR components. - Demonstrating economic viability and competitiveness against other energy sources.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd, UK Government
- Lead contractor
- Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd
- Lead designers
- Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd
- Project type
- new build | technology development
- Scale
- 470 MWe per SMR unit, factory-built
- Disciplines
- nuclear; mechanical; electrical; civil; manufacturing; safety; regulatory compliance
- Standards & frameworks
- ONR (Generic Design Assessment), IAEA standards
Sources: Rolls-Royce SMR: To Deliver Clean, Affordable Energy For All (https://www.rolls-royce-smr.com/) - World Nuclear News: Rolls-Royce SMR named as UK's selected technology (https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/rolls-royce-smr-named-as-uks-selected-technology) - Wikipedia: Rolls-Royce SMR (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_SMR) - Senedd Research: New nuclear at Wylfa: what happens next? (https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/new-nuclear-at-wylfa-what-happens-next/) - Rolls-Royce: Small Modular Reactors (https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/small-modular-reactors.aspx)