nuclear-news

Rolls-Royce snubbed for UK’s first private small nuclear reactor plant

Proactive, Philip Whiterow,  08 Feb 2024

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.)‘s mini-nuclear plans have seemingly suffered a setback with the UK’s first privately funded station to use reactors built by Westinghouse.

The US group said it signed an agreement with Community Nuclear Power to install four AP300 small modular reactors (SMRs) at the North Teesside project to generate up to 1.5 gigawatts of power or enough for up to two million homes.

Westinghouse added it hopes to have the first AP300 operating unit available in “the early 2030s”…………………………………..

Mini-reactors or SMRs were a key plank of former prime minister Boris Johnson’s plans to rejuvenate Britain’s nuclear industry and hit his green energy targets.

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Lord Houchen, the mayor of Tees Valley, said one of the major issues it faced was the lack of policy clarity in the UK over SMRs.

Although reportedly ahead of the competition, Rolls-Royce’s SMR is still said to be only mid-way through the UK approval process.

The new power station is being entirely privately funded and will be sited at Seal Sands, a former chemical works.  https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/1040531/rolls-royce-snubbed-for-uk-s-first-private-nuclear-plant-1040531.html

February 11, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, UK