Rolls-Royce slims down plans to build mini nuclear factories in the UK
Rolls-Royce has slimmed down its plans to build two mini new nuclear factories in the UK after a government design competition was delayed, according to reports.
The engineering giant planned to make a factory to make heavy pressure vessels for its SMRs and another that would make the building blocks of the reactors to be constructed in the UK, as part of its small modular reactor (SMR) programme.
It had earmarked several potential locations for the pressure vessels factory, including the International Advanced Manufacturing Park on the outskirts of Sunderland, plus Gateway industrial park in Deeside, Wales.
But the company reportedly will no longer go ahead with the plan for the pressure vessels factory because it says it no longer has time to build it and make the first pressure vessels by the early 2030s when it hopes to create first SMRs, The Telegraph reports.
But it says the it will still go ahead with its plan to make the second factory.
A spokesman for Rolls-Royce SMR confirmed the company had now “prioritised work on our modules assembly and test facility”, adding: “Our efforts are focused on identifying the best site to support our deployment at pace.”
The company had been waiting on the results of the government’s competition, which has been repeatedly delayed, before making a decision on whether to proceed with the pressure vessels factory.
Winners of the competition ae not due to be announced until this June at the earliest.
Rolls-Royce will now buy its heavy pressure vessels, which are positioned in the centre of nuclear reactors, from a third party supplier.
The metal components must be able to remain intact amid extremely high temperatures and pressures of reactors.
The components are only constructed by a select group of companies, including Sheffield Forgemasters, which earlier this month became the sole UK company to gain the qualifications needed to make SMR reactor vessel components.
Rolls second factory is set to build the modular units that make up its SMRs.
It is claimed that sites shortlisted for the pressure vessel factory could be shortlisted for the second plant – but no decision on its location has yet been made.
The engineering giant has not ruled out reviving its plan for a heavy pressure vessel factory at some point in the future, but this will depend on if it manages to build up a healthy pipeline of orders.
A Government spokesman said: “Our world leading SMR competition aims to be the fastest of its kind, helping secure billions in investment for the UK, meaning cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy in the long-term.”
