UK Government to fund development of SMRs

• 6 years ago (2017-12-04)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 Nuclear 640

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The UK Government is expected to fund development of the first generation of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Britain later this week, with up to £100 million being made available. Rolls-Royce, among other companies, have been lobbying for such support since it was first promised two years ago.

After delays to the Government’s competition to find the best value SMR, Richard Harrington, the Energy Minister, is expected to announce on 7 December that £100 million in funding will be made available.

The funding is designed to help Rolls-Royce and other consortia, including the US companies NuScale and Terrapower, and CNNC of China, undertake the research and development for a SMR to be built in Britain. It has not yet been revealed how the funding will be divided between the 33 participants in the SMR competition.

Government officials have said that developers will only get financial help if they can prove that their SMR design will be affordable and competitive with rival energy sources. The earliest an SMR is thought likely to be ready for deployment in the UK is 2030.