Rolls Royce secures backing to enter SMR sector
Modular reactors to be available to UK grid by early 2030s as government and equity investors bet on potential of low-carbon power source
Rolls Royce has launched a new business to supply small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) after securing £405mn ($549mn) of funding from the UK government and equity investors including Exelon Generation, the US’ largest nuclear power plant operator. The new business unit, Rolls Royce SMR, will seek regulatory approval for SMR designs through the UK generic design assessment process and start identifying potential sites for the manufacture of modules. SMR technology will be available to the UK power grid in the early 2030s, Rolls Royce says. It is also engaging with export customers globally. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the UK to deploy more low-carbon energy than ever before
Also in this section
13 December 2024
Prices in world’s largest compliance market have risen this year but remain below those seen in the EU
11 December 2024
Policymakers need to step up with a long-term, global strategy if the energy transition is ever to be a success
11 December 2024
CCUS and other carbon management technologies are gaining traction around the world, but heightened policy risk and other pressures will make 2025 a challenging year in some regions
10 December 2024
Tightened standards have helped improve the outlook for the voluntary carbon market, which is set for a record year and poised for long-term growth