Released March 10, 2025 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The U.K. has called on the final four shortlisted bidders in its small modular reactor (SMR) programme to submit final tenders with the goal of making final decisions this spring.
The state's Great British Nuclear (GBN) body, which is tasked with delivering the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies, said that the process has "entered its final phase." It has issued an invitation to submit final tenders to GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International (Wilmington, North Carolina), Holtec International (Jupiter, Florida), Rolls-Royce (London, England) and Westinghouse Electric Company (Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania). GBN said that it will select one or two of the technologies for deployment. It owns land for potential new nuclear development at both Wylfa and Oldbury-on-Severn--both former nuclear power sites undergoing decommissioning.
Simon Bowen, GBN Chairman, said: "This is an exciting moment for Great British Nuclear and the U.K. as we reach the final stage of the technology selection process for the Small Modular Reactor programme." U.K. Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband, said: "Small modular reactors will support our mission to become a clean energy superpower. That's why we are backing new nuclear technology to help secure our energy independence and grow the economy."
GE Hitachi is putting forward its BWRX-300, a boiling water reactor, Holtec's SMR-300 is a 300-megawatt (MW) pressurised water reactor, the Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470-MW pressurised water reactor and Westinghouse's AP300 is a 300-MW pressurised water reactor.
Industrial Info reported recently that the U.K. government had promised to "rip-up" the nuclear power rulebook, to speed-up the rollout of new nuclear power projects, in particular SMR technology. It aims to incorporate mini-nuclear power stations in planning rules to allow firms to build them in areas that need them, scrap rules that limit nuclear projects to just eight sites, remove the expiry date on nuclear planning rules and establish a nuclear regulatory task force to accelerate the planning process. For additional information, see February 26, 2025, article - U.K. 'Rips Up' Nuclear Power Rulebook.
The final four technologies are:
The state's Great British Nuclear (GBN) body, which is tasked with delivering the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies, said that the process has "entered its final phase." It has issued an invitation to submit final tenders to GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International (Wilmington, North Carolina), Holtec International (Jupiter, Florida), Rolls-Royce (London, England) and Westinghouse Electric Company (Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania). GBN said that it will select one or two of the technologies for deployment. It owns land for potential new nuclear development at both Wylfa and Oldbury-on-Severn--both former nuclear power sites undergoing decommissioning.
Simon Bowen, GBN Chairman, said: "This is an exciting moment for Great British Nuclear and the U.K. as we reach the final stage of the technology selection process for the Small Modular Reactor programme." U.K. Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband, said: "Small modular reactors will support our mission to become a clean energy superpower. That's why we are backing new nuclear technology to help secure our energy independence and grow the economy."
GE Hitachi is putting forward its BWRX-300, a boiling water reactor, Holtec's SMR-300 is a 300-megawatt (MW) pressurised water reactor, the Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470-MW pressurised water reactor and Westinghouse's AP300 is a 300-MW pressurised water reactor.
Industrial Info reported recently that the U.K. government had promised to "rip-up" the nuclear power rulebook, to speed-up the rollout of new nuclear power projects, in particular SMR technology. It aims to incorporate mini-nuclear power stations in planning rules to allow firms to build them in areas that need them, scrap rules that limit nuclear projects to just eight sites, remove the expiry date on nuclear planning rules and establish a nuclear regulatory task force to accelerate the planning process. For additional information, see February 26, 2025, article - U.K. 'Rips Up' Nuclear Power Rulebook.
The final four technologies are:
- The Rolls-Royce SMR, a 470-MW design based on a small pressurised water reactor. Currently it is the only candidate to reach the final Step 3 assessment of new nuclear technologies in the U.K.'s Generic Design Assessment review.
- GE-Hitachi's BWRX-300, based on boiling water reactor technology, boasts modular and open-top construction techniques that the company claims reduces the amount of concrete and steel needed. It stated that a BWRX-300 can be constructed in 24-36 months with an approximate 90% volume reduction in plant layout.
- The Westinghouse AP300 SMR is touted as the "the only SMR based on an advanced, large Generation III+ reactor already in operation globally" - the AP1000 pressurized light water technology technology.
- Holtec's SMR-300 is a 300-MW pressurised water reactor. Most recently it launched its "Mission 2030" project, confirming plans to build two of its SMRs at the Palisades site in Michigan with a target of 2030 for first commercial operation.
