Rolls-Royce leads the rest of Europe in preparing for SMR technology

Rolls-Royce SMR has completed Step 2 of the Generic Design Assessment by the UK nuclear industry’s independent regulators – the Office for Nuclear Regulation, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales – and will move immediately into the third and final Step.

The GDA process assesses new nuclear power plant designs for deployment in the UK, demonstrating they can be built, operated and decommissioned in accordance with the highest standards of safety, security, safeguards and environmental protection.

This announcement confirms Rolls-Royce SMR’s position ahead of any other Small Modular Reactor in Europe. Rolls-Royce SMR will further exploit this significant advantage by moving immediately to Step 3 ‘detailed assessment’.

Helena Perry, Rolls-Royce SMR’s Safety and Regulatory Affairs Director, said: “The completion of Step 2 of the GDA is the most important milestone to date in advancing deployment of Rolls-Royce SMRs in the UK.

“We have built fantastic momentum, and the team will move directly into Step 3 of this rigorous independent assessment of our technology – ideally positioning us to deliver low- carbon nuclear power and support the UK transition to net zero.”

Rolls-Royce SMR will be the first new nuclear power station to be designed and built in the UK for more than a generation and offers a radically different approach, delivering new nuclear power based on proven technology. Each ‘factory-built’ nuclear power station will provide enough affordable, low-carbon electricity to power a million homes for more than 60 years.

Rolls-Royce SMR is currently engaged in the Great British Nuclear SMR technology selection process. A successful outcome from that selection process, this year, will create and sustain thousands of high-skilled, long-term jobs and unlock enormous export potential.