Rolls-Royce leads push to build nuclear reactors
ANEW generation of mini nuclear reactors is set to be built on 16 sites across the UK, as part of the push for zero-carbon energy.
A company with a base at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth is part of the consortium led by Rolls-Royce developing the project.
The first small modular reactor (SMR) sites are likely to be at places previously used for nuclear facilities, such as decommissioned nuclear power stations.
Rolls-Royce says the compact size of the new power generators, each able to power around one million homes, could also see them installed to supply heavy users such as industry and data centres.
The Government is expected to announce a multi-million pound funding package for the scheme soon. No specific new sites have been identified and Rolls-Royce has refused to comment on any locations.
A company spokesperson said: “What we would look for on a site is, is there a grid connection, is there a supportive community, is there a skills base that supports the operation of a unit?”
Rolls-Royce says the components for the power stations would be built off-site, lowering the costs and speeding up construction time.
The consortium includes Cavendish Nuclear, part of Babcock International Group, which has nuclear manufacturing capabilities at Rosyth in Scotland.
It also operates at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth, which is run by Babcock, where the Navy’s nuclear submarines are repaired and refuelled.
Cavendish is also involved in the construction of two new nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
The technology behind the mini power stations is being seen as an important part of delivering the Government’s pledge to reach zero-carbon electricity by 2035.
The carbon-free energy plants are also being promoted as a way to produce sustainable aviation fuel and power the production of green hydrogen, which is seen as the next generation of carbon-free fuel.
The go-ahead for an expected £210 million of Government funding, matching private investment, is due to be given ahead of the United Nations’ Cop26 climate change conference being hosted in Glasgow at the end of this month.
Around a fifth of UK electricity is currently generated by nuclear power, but that is set to fall by half as ageing reactors are switched off by 2025. Replacement capacity includes two new reactors at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, expected to produce enough power for around six million homes after opening in June 2026, costing up to £23 billion.
Rolls-Royce says it expects to create 6,000 regional jobs in the next five years by building the first of a fleet of 16 SMRs. It expects to see 40,000 jobs created over 15 years as the sites are rolled out.