Rolls-Royce SMR
UK
Basics
Reactor Type
Pressurised Water Reactor
Pressurized (light) water reactor
Primary heat transport: H2O - so-called light (normal) water
Primary heat transport: H2O - so-called light (normal) water
Reactor Description
Loop operated PWR
Electric Output (MWe)
470
Thermal Output (MWt)
1358
Size
Large
'Large' size
Electric output of between 200 MWe and 300 MWe (or more)
Electric output of between 200 MWe and 300 MWe (or more)
Spectrum
Thermal
Kinetic neutron energy of 0.000…0.025 eV
Slow or cold neutron / moderated neutron spectrum
Slow or cold neutron / moderated neutron spectrum
Developer
Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd.
Pilot Site Details
One of four preferred: Trawsfynydd, Sellafield, Wylfa, Oldbury
Details
Use (goal of commercial operation)
Power production
Deployment medium
Land-based
Design Lifetime (Years)
60
Fuel
Fuel class
LEU
Low enriched uranium
Uranium enriched to less than 5 percent U-235
Uranium enriched to less than 5 percent U-235
Fuel Type
UO2 Pellets
Uranium dioxide
Most often used uranium compound for fuel elements
Most often used uranium compound for fuel elements
Fuel Cycle
Open
Refuelling Cycle
N/A
Cooling & Temperature
Reactor cooling of primary loop
Light Water
Deuterium-depleted water
Containing the natural proportion (or less) of deuterium oxide, i.e. about 0.02 percent
Containing the natural proportion (or less) of deuterium oxide, i.e. about 0.02 percent
Reactor moderator
Light Water
Deuterium-depleted water
Containing the natural proportion (or less) of deuterium oxide, i.e. about 0.02 percent
Containing the natural proportion (or less) of deuterium oxide, i.e. about 0.02 percent
Reactor Outlet Temperature (°C)
325
Status
Design status
Detailed design
Licensing status
- Since Jul 2024: Ongoing...
- Since Jul 2024: Ongoing pre-licensing generic design assessment (GDA) process final Step 3 in the UK
- Jul 2024 - Applied for regulatory justification decision (one of the required steps for the operation of a new nuclear technology in the UK)
- Jul 2024 - Completed UK pre-licensing GDA Step 2
- Apr 2023 - Completed UK pre-licensing GDA Step 1
- In 2017 - Developed conceptual design
- In 2015 - Developed initial design
Deployment timeline
Early 2030s
Agreements and Engagement
- Jun 2025 - Rolls-Royce SMR selected as...
- Jun 2025 - Rolls-Royce SMR selected as preferred bidder for UK SMR programme
- Feb 2025 - Rolls-Royce invited to submit final bid in UK SMR programme tender
- Oct 2024 - Partnership announced with Czech Republic's CEZ, the company to take 20% stake in Rolls-Royce SMR
- Sep 2024 - Rolls-Royce SMR makes it into a further stage of the UK government process among four shortlisted candidates
- Sep 2024 - Czech Republic chose Rolls-Royce for partnership to build SMR plants
- Jun 2024 - Sweden's Vattenfall shortlists Rolls-Royce SMR in competition to build at least two SMRs at Ringhals NPP
- May 2024 - Poland's Industria Group gets in-principle approval by government to potentially deploy Rolls-Royce SMR (not binding, not a regulatory permit)
- Oct 2023 - UK government includes Rolls-Royce SMR in shortlist for first SMR competition among six vendors
- Memoranda of understanding signed:
- Czech Republic (Škoda JS)
- Turkey (EUAS)
- Estonia (Fermi Energia, though not preferred deployment technology at this stage)
- Netherlands (BAM Infra Nederland and ULC-Energy)
- Finland (Fortum)
- Ukraine (Energoatom)
