British Nuclear Industry Calls for Twenty Small Modular Reactor Programme

The British nuclear industry faces a pivotal moment as leading developer GE Hitachi urges the government to outline plans for 20 small modular reactors (SMRs), positioning the UK as a potential manufacturing hub for this emerging technology.

GE Hitachi, a frontrunner in the government’s £20 billion nuclear funding competition, emphasises the critical relationship between manufacturing investment and project scale. Maví Zingoni, chief executive of power at GE Vernova, highlighted that manufacturing location decisions hinge on projected volume commitments.

The proposed SMR programme could revolutionise Britain’s nuclear landscape, with each reactor capable of powering a metropolitan area equivalent to Leeds. The government’s imminent decision on technology selection has drawn heightened attention, as ministers contemplate whether to maintain their initial two-technology approach or streamline to a single provider for cost efficiency.

GE Hitachi’s strategy builds upon their successful deployment in Canada, marking the first SMR installation in any G7 nation. Their ambitious timeline projects operational capability by 2032, with construction anticipated to commence within four to five years and completion expected within three years.

The competition has attracted significant interest, with Rolls-Royce emerging as a favourite following substantial government investment. The selection process, now in its final stages, seeks to establish up to 1.5 gigawatts of capacity per chosen developer, translating to between three and five reactors each.

Industry experts suggest this initiative could catalyse substantial economic benefits, creating high-skilled employment opportunities and establishing Britain as a global leader in nuclear innovation. The decision’s implications extend beyond energy security, potentially reshaping the UK’s industrial strategy for decades to come.