pressurized water reactor
Assembly Line
‘A viable business’: Rolls-Royce banking on success of small modular reactors
A new wave of nuclear technology is emerging as an alternative to massive projects like Hinkley Point C. Small modular reactors (SMRs), which can be factory-built and assembled on-site, are being pitched as a faster, more cost-effective path to nuclear power generation. Rolls-Royce, leveraging its submarine reactor expertise, is competing with three North American firms for UK government contracts.
The key innovation is modularity: these pressurized water reactors are manufactured in truck-sized components for on-site assembly, requiring just two hectares for Rolls-Royce’s design. This factory-based approach contrasts sharply with traditional nuclear projects’ complex on-site construction, potentially offering significant efficiency gains.