Britain’s nuclear regulators have approved early designs for small modular reactors (SMRs) developed by Rolls-Royce SMR as a first step towards significantly expanding the UK’s nuclear power capabilities.

The firm is offering a different approach to delivering new nuclear power that is easier to scale and more affordable than building larger nuclear power plants. 

It’s an approach that aims to deliver an entirely factory-built nuclear power plant that would be transported as modules and assembled on-site, radically reducing construction activity and making the SMRs a commodifiable product.

The previous government had an ambition to increase nuclear capacity in the UK from around 6GW to up to 24GW by 2050, as set out in the 2022 British energy security strategy.

The SMRs designed by Rolls-Royce will only provide around 470MWe of energy, but are significantly cheaper than major plants like the upcoming Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C. 

The Environment Agency, Office for Nuclear Regulation and Natural Resources Wales confirmed that the firm has completed step 2 of a generic design assessment (GDA).

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 strict regulations on safety, security, safeguards and environmental protection.

Step 2 of the GDA began in April 2023, and since the design has now been approved, it can move onto step 3 which will entail more detailed scrutiny.

 Saffron Price-Finnerty, the Environment Agency’s new reactors programme manager, said: “Our team of specialist assessors have worked diligently to assess hundreds of submissions and documents provided by Rolls-Royce SMR Limited and attended numerous technical meetings with the company.

“We have not currently identified any significant issues or concerns with the design and Rolls-Royce SMR Limited has been able to demonstrate that environmental protection and radioactive waste management are key areas of focus for its developing design.”

Rolls-Royce SMR said that today’s announcement puts it ahead of any other SMR manufacturer in Europe.

Helena Perry, Rolls-Royce SMR’s safety 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.”

However, four companies, GE Hitachi, Holtec, Westinghouse (Canada), and Rolls Royce SMR have been shortlisted following two rounds of assessment by GBN, the government’s expert nuclear delivery body.

GBN will negotiate with all four before final tenders are submitted, with final decisions to be taken in the spring.

Each of the four designs was subject to a robust analysis to reach this stage. GBN has evaluated each technology, including aspects such as safety, deliverability, and their ability to support development of a fleet of SMRs. GBN considers the designs, each of which is proceeding through the UK’s regulatory process, are viable options for development. Subject to negotiations, GBN consider any one of these designs would be fit to use in the UK nuclear programme.     

GBN’s Chair, Simon Bowen said, ‘This is a significant moment for the SMR programme. Our technical experts have assessed each design in detail and are very confident these SMRs could play a key role in the UK’s future energy.

Once again this news strengthens Peter Dutton’s proposal for Australia to include nuclear in our energy supply mix.