![[rr-smr-logo.ddc34dce.webp|300]] Company website: https://www.rolls-royce-smr.com/ ### Introduction Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd is a British nuclear technology company specializing in the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) to provide low-carbon, affordable energy. Established in 2021 as a standalone business drawing on decades of Rolls-Royce's experience in nuclear propulsion for the UK Royal Navy, it was founded under the leadership of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc without specific individual founders highlighted, though it builds on the engineering heritage of the parent company. Headquartered in Derby, England, with a new office announced in Manchester in June 2025, the company's mission is to deliver clean, scalable nuclear power through factory-built solutions that reduce construction risks, costs, and timelines while supporting global net-zero goals. The key focus areas include designing SMRs for electricity generation, industrial applications, and export markets, emphasizing modular assembly where 90% of components are manufactured in factories for on-site integration. Rolls-Royce SMR has advanced through UK regulatory processes faster than competitors, completing Step Two of the Generic Design Assessment in 2024, and has secured government backing for domestic deployment while pursuing international opportunities in Europe and beyond. ### Key Products and Technology - **Rolls-Royce SMR Power Plant**: The primary product is a factory-built small modular reactor system using proven pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology, designed for modular deployment with components assembled off-site and transported for final integration, minimizing on-site construction to about 500 days. - **Power Output and Scalability**: Each unit generates 470 megawatts electric (MWe), sufficient to power approximately one million homes or equivalent to over 150 onshore wind turbines; plants can scale with multiple units, targeting up to 3 GW in configurations like those planned for the Czech Republic. - **Fuel and Efficiency**: Employs standard uranium fuel in a PWR configuration with a 60-year operational lifespan; focuses on high efficiency through compact design and reduced material use, achieving lower levelized costs via economies of scale in factory production. - **Safety and Design Features**: Incorporates passive safety systems from naval PWR heritage, including resilience to extreme events; the reactor is housed in a compact containment structure (about the size of two football pitches), with modular components enabling "plug-and-play" assembly; emphasizes cyber-secure, non-programmable reactor protection systems for automatic shutdown without human intervention. - **Applications**: Provides baseload low-carbon electricity for grids, data centers, hydrogen production, district heating, and desalination; supports decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry and remote locations, with export potential as a "British-built" solution for global markets. ### Team and Leadership - **Chris Cholerton, CEO**: Oversees strategic direction and commercialization; Group President at Rolls-Royce Holdings with extensive experience in aerospace and nuclear sectors, previously leading Rolls-Royce's nuclear business unit. - **Sir Stephen Lovegrove GCMG KCB, Chair**: Guides board-level governance; former UK National Security Adviser and Permanent Secretary at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, bringing expertise in energy policy and security. - **Ruth Todd CBE, Operations and Supply Chain Director**: Manages manufacturing and logistics; joined in 2024 with a background in defense and engineering, including roles at Babcock International, focused on building a resilient UK supply chain for SMR deployment. - **Other Key Executives**: Include board members like Anna Mascolo (Executive Vice President, Low Carbon Solutions at Shell) for strategic partnerships, Tomas Pleskač (from ČEZ Group) for international expansion, and Dominic Horwood (from Rolls-Royce) for technical oversight; the team emphasizes nuclear safety, regulatory compliance, and global market entry. ### Recent News and Developments (2025) | Date | Event | Details | |------|--------|---------| | August 1, 2025 | Partnership Agreements with Škoda JS and Curtiss-Wright | Signed MoU with Czech firm Škoda JS for component production and strategic deal with Curtiss-Wright for reactor protection systems, boosting UK supply chain with over 200 jobs and supporting up to 3 GW deployment. | | July 17, 2025 | Early Works Agreement with ČEZ Group | Launched site-specific work at Temelín Nuclear Power Plant in Czech Republic for potential SMR deployment, advancing plans for up to 3 GW capacity. | | June 10, 2025 | Selected as Preferred Bidder by UK Government | Chosen by Great British Nuclear to partner on building the UK's first SMRs, with plans for three units generating employment and boosting exports. | | June 10, 2025 | Awarded £2.5 Billion for SMR Development | Received funding from UK government to construct a 470 MW unit, supporting net-zero goals and energy security. | | March 10, 2025 | Exclusive Agreement with Siemens Energy | Partnered for turbine systems design, manufacture, and commissioning, enhancing global deployment capabilities. | | February 28, 2025 | Partnership with Siemens Energy Announced | Signed deal for steam turbine technology, expected to supply systems for future SMR projects over the next decade. | ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **Škoda JS**: MoU signed August 2025 to explore manufacturing key reactor components for global fleets, building on Czech nuclear expertise for cost-effective production. - **Curtiss-Wright Nuclear Division**: Multi-million-pound strategic partnership announced August 2025 for safety-critical reactor protection systems, creating over 200 jobs in Dorset, UK, and ensuring non-programmable shutdown technology. - **Siemens Energy**: Exclusive agreement from February 2025 for turbine systems, including design, installation, and commissioning, leveraging Siemens' nuclear steam turbine leadership for SMR efficiency. - **ČEZ Group**: Collaboration since 2024, with July 2025 Early Works Agreement for site studies at Temelín; plans for up to 3 GW deployment in Czech Republic and joint ventures in the UK. - **Westinghouse Electric Company**: Agreement from 2023 (ongoing in 2025) for nuclear fuel design and development, supporting fuel supply for Rolls-Royce SMR units. - **Great British Nuclear (GBN)**: Selected in June 2025 as preferred partner for UK SMR rollout, including three units with government funding and regulatory support. - **Vattenfall and Fortum**: Nordic utilities exploring SMR feasibility in Sweden and Finland, with Rolls-Royce SMR as a potential technology provider for decarbonization. - **Energoatom (Ukraine)**: Discussions for SMR deployment to enhance energy security, drawing on Rolls-Royce's modular approach. - **Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment**: Received decision in principle for SMR technology, paving way for potential Eastern European expansion. - **University of Sheffield AMRC**: Research partnership to advance manufacturing techniques, supporting factory-built components as highlighted in June 2025 government selection. ### Closing Note Backed by Rolls-Royce Holdings and £2.5 billion in UK government funding as of June 2025, Rolls-Royce SMR is in the advanced regulatory and pre-deployment stage, with strong prospects for first operational units by the early 2030s amid domestic selection and international partnerships. *Report generated August 04, 2025*