Two Welsh sites have been named on a priority shortlist of four sites for mini-nuclear power stations. Rolls-Royce SMR, supported by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), has completed a siting assessment review into the potential options for deploying Rolls-Royce SMR power stations.
Wylfa and Trawsfynydd are both on the shortlist as part of the first phase in a programme of work which is considering siting, collaboration opportunities and the socio-economic benefits of deploying Rolls-Royce SMR units on land within the NDA estate - with other locations across the UK also being evaluated.
The study has identified a range of sites that could host several GW of new, low carbon power. Of these, Rolls-Royce SMR has identified four potential land parcels - two are within the control of the NDA (land at Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd and and neighbouring the Sellafield site) with two others on NDA land leased to a third party (Wylfa on Anglesey and Oldbury). Welsh Government has set up development company Cwmni Egino to secure nuclear investment at Trawsfynydd.
Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie has welcomed the news. She told North Wales Live: “I am absolutely thrilled this big step forward has been made and it could make a huge difference to lives across Anglesey for generations to come.
“Everyone knows I have been relentless in the pursuit of this since the last Horizon nuclear project on the island fell through. I never gave up because I believed Wylfa was the best site in the UK for nuclear.
“This announcement is a vindication of that stance and it means more than anything to me because it brings much closer the Holy Grail of jobs and prosperity to our island. That’s what I said I would do. There are further steps that need to happen before it is a reality but what excellent news - I simply could not be happier."
Rolls-Royce SMR matched the sites against a set of assessment criteria that will enable stations to be operational by the early 2030s, including: existing geotechnical data, adequate grid connection and a site large enough to deploy multiple SMRs. Each Rolls-Royce SMR would create enough clean energy to power a million homes for 60 years. Deploying a fleet of SMR in the UK would create 40,000 jobs across England and Wales.
Tom Samson, chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce SMR, said: “I am tremendously grateful to David Peattie and the NDA team for their work in helping inform our understanding of the significant opportunity to bring new nuclear power back to nuclear communities across England and Wales.
"Identifying the sites that can host our SMRs is a key step to our efficient deployment – the sooner that work can begin at site, the sooner we can deliver stable, secure supplies of low-carbon nuclear power from SMRs designed and built in the UK.”
"We must maintain this positive momentum and work with the NDA and Government departments, to ensure we capitalise on the range of siting options, focusing on those that maximise benefit to the taxpayer while enabling power to come online as close to 2030 as possible."
David Peattie, chief executive officer of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, said: “This study is a tangible step forward in our mission to safely decommission our sites and free up land for future use, delivering benefit to local communities and so to the wider economy.
“We’re engaging with several potential partners to explore the use of land in our estate whilst utilising the NDA’s nuclear sector expertise to support the delivery of the UK Government’s energy security strategy.
”The UK has a range of siting options for new nuclear infrastructure and the flexibility and smaller footprint of the Rolls-Royce SMR mean that maximum benefit can be derived for the taxpayer by building on sites that are owned by the NDA."
Minister of State for Climate, Graham Stuart, said: “This work to identify potential sites for the first generation of small modular reactors is a positive step. These places not only have a strong historical connection with the industry, but also communities with the skills to benefit from the well-paid jobs that could be created.
“SMRs could make an important contribution to our ambition to deploy up to 24GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, lowering energy costs for consumers, and helping us meet net zero.”
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