UK-based global major industrial technology group Rolls-Royce recently signed, in rapid succession, two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) regarding the development and operation of small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plants (NPPs). Rolls-Royce is leading a consortium, supported by both industry and the British government, to develop an SMR NPP for the UK and export (being referred to as the UKSMR).

The UKSMR concept is to produce a low-cost NPP, whose components would be manufactured in a factory, using advanced manufacturing technologies to cut costs. The components would be assembled on site within a weatherproof canopy, to prevent the assembly process being disrupted, thereby also reducing costs. Each UKSMR would have a generating capacity of 440 MW.

The first of these MoUs was signed with giant US private-sector electricity utility Exelon, which currently operates 21 conventional (pressurised water) nuclear reactors in the US, which together have a capacity of 19 600 MW. The second MoU was signed with predominantly State-owned Czech electricity utility CEZ, which is one of the ten largest energy companies in Europe and currently operates two NPPs in its home country.

The MoU with Exelon covers the potential for that group to acquire and operate UKSMRs both in Britain and other countries, and for the utility to use its operational expertise to help Rolls-Royce in the development and deployment of the UKSMR. “The opportunity to partner with Exelon is a very exciting prospect for our programme, complementing our existing consortium partnerships with one of the world’s largest nuclear operator[s] adds an important dimension to our growth ambitions, embodies the strength of the UK and USA alliance on nuclear matters and offers our future customers the ability to achieve the highest performance standards associated with Exelon’s outstanding operational track record,” affirmed UKSMR interim CEO Tom Samson.

“We believe that SMRs are a crucial part of the world’s clean energy mix,” stated Exelon EVP and COO Bryan Hanson. “With our experience both in the US and internationally, Exelon is confident that we can help Rolls-Royce ensure SMRs play a key role in the UK’s energy future. We’ve had a very strong record of performance for 20 consecutive years, with a 2019 capacity factor of 95.7%. We will leverage this experience to achieve sustainably high capacity factors for the UKSMRs.”

CEZ’s two existing NPPs are responsible for some 33% of the country’s electricity production. The Czech Republic’s State Energy Concept requires the construction of new NPPs to help replace the country’s current coal-fired power stations, which generate some 53% of the country’s electricity. Although the country will also increase its use of renewable electricity sources, its small size and other geographic factors limit its renewable-energy potential.

“The affordability and speed with which we can assemble the entire power station will no doubt make it a very attractive option for CEZ as it looks to its future reliable low-carbon energy,” observed Samson. “I look forward to developing this important relationship for the future.”

“New energy solutions and technologies play an important role in our business and we have been focusing on small modular reactors for quite some time now, especially in our top research company, UJV Rez,” reported CEZ chairperson and CEO Daniel Benes. “In the future, they can be an important alternative that we cannot ignore. The partnership with Rolls-Royce and other global companies is therefore a logical step in our endeavour.”