Rolls-Royce eyes sites for first SMR factory

Rolls-Royce has released a shortlist of potential locations for the first of three planned factories for the manufacture of small modular reactors (SMRs).

The firm said construction of the factory, which will produce the “heavy vessels” for the reactors, will commence once it receives the go-ahead to build a fleet of SMRs in the UK.

The idea behind SMRs is to scale down the size of reactors when compared to conventional nuclear power stations, thereby allowing them to be pre-fabricated in modules before being shipped to site for assembly. By building them in larger numbers in controlled factory conditions, proponents hope to be able to bring down the costs of nuclear power.

Rolls-Royce, which provides the reactors for the Royal Navy’s fleet of nuclear submarines, was awarded £210 million of government funding in November to take forward the development of its 470MW SMR design.

Picture: Artist’s impression of Rolls-Royce SMR power station

The company said the heavy vessel factory, which is expected to cost between £100 million and £200 million and create more than 200 permanent jobs, will be the “largest and most complex” of its three planned facilities, meaning an early decision on siting is important.

Rolls-Royce has selected a shortlist of six possible locations from more than 100 submissions from Local Enterprise Partnerships and development agencies. They are:

• North East – The International Advanced Manufacturing Plant in Sunderland or Forrest Park in Newton Aycliffe
• North Yorkshire – Junction 53 at Catterick
• Wales – Gateway in Deeside
• Yorkshire – Ferrybridge
• Greater Lincolnshire – Grimsby ABP or Pioneer Park in Stallingborough
• Cumbria – Kingmoor Park in Carlisle

Tom Samson, chief executive of Rolls-Royce SMR, said: “I would like to thank everyone who sent in a submission suggesting locations in their region for the first Rolls-Royce SMR factory. The response was fantastic and shows the ambition and appetite of the UK to build and operate a fleet of SMRs which will provide affordable, low-carbon electricity for generations to come.

“The final location will come from the shortlist and will result in significant investment, long-term high-skilled jobs and will support the UK government’s aspirations for levelling-up. Today’s announcement is another example of the pace of our project and why Rolls-Royce SMR is the UK’s domestic nuclear energy champion.”

Business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “This is fantastic news for Sunderland, North Yorkshire, Deeside, Lincolnshire and Carlisle which, if these SMRs go ahead, could be at the forefront of manufacturing components for this British-made tech.

“Backed by £210 million, SMRs have the potential to provide quicker and cheaper low-carbon nuclear power, and today’s announcement underlines the potential for new jobs around the country created by embracing this new technology.”

Nuclear Industry Association chief executive Tom Greatrex commented: “There is real appetite for the development of SMRs in the UK. Building a fleet of these reactors will bring high-quality, skilled jobs and provide long term investment and opportunity, helping secure Britain’s net zero ambitions. It also shows that the industry is serious about delivering on the vision set out in the energy security strategy.

“The UK government should back Rolls-Royce SMR so it has the orders which will sustain its factories.”

Rolls-Royce said it is planning to build 90% of its SMRs within factory conditions, with the other two of its three planned facilities producing civils modules and mechanical, electrical and plumbing modules respectively.