Rolls-Royce agrees government deal to develop UK’s first mini nuclear reactors

• Government-owned Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBEN) has signed a landmark contract with Rolls-Royce SMR to develop the UK’s first mini nuclear reactors.
• The agreement initiates work on three Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are projected to generate sufficient low-carbon electricity to power around three million homes.
• The National Wealth Fund is set to invest up to £599 million to support Rolls-Royce SMR in the design phase, with the first SMR power station planned for Wylfa in North Wales.
• Ministers have hailed this as Europe's first formal contract for SMRs, anticipating it will create thousands of jobs and bolster the UK's energy security and transition to clean power.
• This initiative forms part of a wider £2.6 billion government programme, and Rolls-Royce SMR also holds commitments to supply its SMR technology to Czechia.