Rolls-Royce SMR and Holtec Britain are among the firms shortlisted to speak to the government’s nuclear company about delivering small modular reactors (SMR).
Great British Nuclear (GBN) said four companies remained in the running to deliver the technology, which aims to establish small nuclear plants more quickly than traditional large-scale versions and build them largely offsite.
Rolls-Royce SMR is a consortium led by the aerospace and defence company whose partners include Laing O’Rourke and Bam Nuttall.
Holtec Britain is working with Balfour Beatty, Hyundai and Mott MacDonald on its plans.
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Westinghouse Electric Company UK have also been selected from bids delivered to (GBN) before its July deadline.
An update from the quango said: “In the next stage of the procurement process, bidders will be invited to enter negotiations with GBN.”
Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive Chris Cholerton said his was the only UK-led company in the running and claimed to be “18 months ahead of competitors” in securing regulatory approval.
The company was recently selected to deliver SMRs in Czechia and is in the final two of a selection process in Sweden.
“Success in the UK will further strengthen our position as the leading SMR company and ensure the UK is able to capitalise on this transformational opportunity for the domestic supply chain,” Cholerton said.
Meanwhile, Westinghouse said it is the only SMR whose technology is already proven, as it is proposing to use a slimmed down version of the AP1000 reactor, which is already in operation elsewhere.
Westinghouse president and chief executive Patrick Fragman said: “We are pleased that GBN recognises the advantages of the AP300 SMR design, which is based on an operating reactor that is already licensed in the UK.
“With proven technologies and regulator familiarity, the AP300 can get to market quickly, economically and with certainty.”
The hoped-for fleet of SMRs are not likely to be delivered until the 2030s.
Despite the ongoing work to shortlist manufacturers, how the projects will be funded and their level of Whitehall support has not yet been set out.
