SMRs would each generate 470 megawatts of electricity and cost between £2bn and £3bn initially. Rolls-Royce aims to bring that number down gradually through economies of scale.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said Rolls has now been cleared to move into the third and final stage of the UK’s generic design assessment.
That process is expected to conclude by the end of 2026, after which Rolls will be able to apply for site-specific approval to build its first SMR.
A summary assessment published by the ONR on Tuesday said that the regulator has “not identified any fundamental safety, security or safeguards shortfalls that could prevent permissioning the construction of a power station based on the generic Rolls-Royce SMR design”.
It came as plans for the first SMR in Europe separately advanced. Romania’s state nuclear company awarded a contract to build one using designs developed by American developer NuScale Power.
Tufan Erginbilgic, the chief executive of Rolls, has urged the Government to move forward with SMRs quickly to avoid losing “first-mover advantage” and the potential for huge international exports.
The latest development is a boost for Rolls as it vies against NuScale and other would-be developers in the UK’s ongoing SMR design competition.
Companies made their final submissions earlier this month. Rolls, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Westinghouse, Holtec Britain and NuScale were still in the race after French energy giant EDF pulled out.
Two winners are expected to be chosen and then awarded contracts to build their prototype nuclear power stations at so-far-unnamed locations.
