U.K.'s First SMR Plant Goes to Wales

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)

Summary 

Wlyfa in Wales has been selected as the location for the U.K.'s first planned small nuclear reactor (SMR) plant. It will use three SMR units from Rolls-Royce SMR (London, England), capable of generating enough power for roughly 3 million homes. 

Wales Leads SMR Charge

The U.K. government has picked Wylfa in Wales for the country's first small nuclear reactor (SMR) plant. 

The proposed plant will feature three SMRs designed by Rolls-Royce SMR (London, England) based on small pressurized water reactors (PWR) technology and each capable of generating up to 470 megawatts (MW) of electricity--each enough to power up to 1 million homes for 60 years. The site could potentially hold up to eight SMRs in the future. The project, which will create up to 8,000 jobs during construction, will be overseen by state-owned Great British Energy-Nuclear and is backed by a £2.5 billion (US$3.3 billion) investment from the government. Construction is expected to start next year with first power expected in the mid-2030s. Wylfa has a long history of nuclear power dating back to the 1960s. An older nuclear plant there was shut down in 2015 and plans for a large-scale replacement fell through in 2021.

"Britain was once a world-leader in nuclear power, but years of neglect and inertia have meant places like Anglesey have been let down and left behind," said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "Today, that changes. We're using all the tools in our armoury -- cutting red tape, changing planning laws, and backing growth - to deliver the country's first SMR in North Wales. This government isn't just reversing decline, it's delivering thousands of future-proofed jobs, driving billions in investment, and providing cheaper energy bills in the long term. That's national renewal in action: powered by British talent, powered by nuclear."

European SMR Activity

The U.K. is determined to win the race to be the first to deploy SMRs on a large scale and to become a leading supplier of SMR technology and expertise globally. China and Russia are the only countries to have operational SMRs but these are not commercially available and Russia's are only used in its nuclear-based ice breaking fleet for now. Industrial Info is tracking 29 SMR projects in Europe worth an estimated US$61 billion in investment. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports. 

Why Rolls-Royce SMR?

Rolls-Royce was the first company to submit its design to the U.K.'s Generic Design Assessment (GDA) programme in 2022, which is mandatory for any new nuclear technology seeking clearance for use. This gave it a year's head start on rival technologies. This summer, the U.K. chose its design for the country's first SMR plant over competitive offerings from Holtec International (Jupiter, Florida), GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International (Wilmington, North Carolina) and Westinghouse Electric Company (Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania), which are still taking part in the GDA process. Since then, Rolls-Royce has also signed deals to provide SMRs to a number of other countries, most recently to the Czech Republic with state-owned power company CEZ Group (Prague) and nuclear engineering and manufacturing company SKODA JS (Pilsen, Czech Republic). For additional information, August 13, 2025, article - Rolls-Royce Advances Czech SMR Plans.

Industry Reaction

Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: "Bringing nuclear back to Wylfa is a historic moment for Wales and for the U.K.'s clean energy future. Wylfa's revival offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver clean, reliable power for decades to come. With Great British Energy-Nuclear and Rolls-Royce SMR leading the way, the project will bring lasting economic and social benefits to the communities that have long been at the heart of our energy story."

The SMR Advantage

The key advantages for mini nuclear power plants are their small size and modular manufacturing approach. Each Rolls-Royce SMR takes up just 10% of the footprint of a large-scale nuclear power plant, making them suitable for a much wider range of locations. Many can be built offsite in special manufacturing facilities and then delivered to their location for final assembly, which should lead to lower costs and less construction delays. As power needs grow, additional SMRs can be added and many are suited to work alongside renewables like wind and solar to improve efficiency and add grid stability. Being smaller, they require less capital investment upfront than traditional nuclear plants. On the safety front, SMRs are simpler in design and rely on passive systems and inherent safety characteristics of the reactor, such as low power and operating pressure. This eliminates the need for human intervention or external power or force to shut down systems. They also need to be refueled a lot less often than larger reactors, every 3 to 7 years, in comparison to between 1 and 2 years for conventional plants according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Some tiny SMRs - called 'micro-reactors'-- which generate 10-megawatts (MW) or less, are designed to operate for up to 30 years without refueling.

Key Takeaways

• U.K. chooses site in Wales for its first small nuclear reactor (SMR) plant
• Rolls-Royce SMR (London, England) will supply three SMR units with a capacity of 470 megawatts (MW)
• Industrial Info is tracking 29 SMR projects in Europe worth an estimated US$61 billion in investment

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Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).