This article is a contribution to the NNWI Conference 2026: Powering Industrial Decarbonisation.
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The world faces a global energy emergency driven by rising prices, uncertainty and instability of supply, overreliance on hydrocarbons and older nuclear power stations reaching the end of their operational lives. New nuclear has a vital role to play in fuelling the energy transition that will deliver the right mix of clean and sustainable energy that can provide reliable, affordable power for generations to come while meeting our net zero commitments.
Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) is delivering a radically new approach to deploying proven nuclear technology, economically and efficiently for a wide range of electricity and industrial applications including power, heat, and transport. Rolls-Royce SMR takes well-understood technology and applies a unique manufacturing philosophy to its fabrication and assembly. The Rolls-Royce SMR offers a fully modularised, standardised, factory-built product that is affordable, deliverable, and investable. Using pressurised water reactor technology (the most operated reactor type in the world), standard fuel, and incorporating Rolls-Royce’s unrivalled experience in the design and manufacture of compact nuclear reactors for propulsion systems, the Rolls-Royce SMR will produce 470MWe of always-on power to achieve decarbonisation of the whole energy system.
The Rolls-Royce SMR is the only product that takes a fully modular approach to deploying proven nuclear technology. A highly competitive source of ‘always on’ clean energy for grid and industrial uses. Reducing project risk and providing certainty through a repeatable, factory-built product with low capital cost designed to attract traditional forms of capital through a low-risk solution.
The Rolls-Royce SMR is currently progressing through the final step of the UK’s independent regulatory assessment process (Generic Design Assessment – GDA) to ensure the design meets the highest standards of safety, security, safeguards and environmental protection. As the only 50Hz SMR design to have formally commenced licensing globally, the Rolls-Royce SMR is on track for the deployment of initial units in Europe in the early 2030s with contracts signed with both Great British Energy Nuclear in the UK and CEZ in Czechia.
