UK To Start Approval Process For Rolls-Royce SMR

Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd has submitted its 470-MW small modular reactor (SMR) design for entry to the UK’s Generic Design Assessment (GDA) regulatory process, run jointly by the Office for Nuclear Regulation, Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency. The three regulators can now begin their formal review process

A GDA is a formal process for approving a new nuclear reactor, and this is the first time a small-scale reactor has been assessed by regulator.

The British Government and investors support Rolls-Royce SMR to develop the country’s first SMR, as part of its drive to reach net zero carbon emissions and promote new technology with export potential.

The development of a “clean energy solution which can deliver cost-competitive and scalable net-zero power for multiple applications from grid and industrial electricity production to hydrogen and synthetic fuel manufacturing” is the goal declared by the company, which said the potential for this to be a leading global export for the UK is unprecedented.

Indeed, nine-tenths of an individual Rolls-Royce SMR power plant will be built or assembled in factory conditions and around 80% could be delivered by a UK supply chain.

As said, Roll-Royce SMRs are expected to have a generation capacity of 470 MW, or enough to power the equivalent of 1.3 million UK homes.