Rolls-Royce SMR selected as preferred bidder to build UK’s first small modular reactors

Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected as the preferred bidder by Great British Energy – Nuclear to build the UK’s first small modular reactors (SMRs), marking a major step forward in the country’s clean energy ambitions. The decision follows a rigorous two-year competition to identify the most suitable nuclear technology for deployment.

Source: GOV UK

Subject to final government approvals and contract signing, the project is expected to support up to 3,000 jobs at peak construction and generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 3 million homes. SMRs are designed to be smaller and faster to construct than traditional nuclear power stations, with scalable production and the potential to reduce overall costs through repeatable manufacturing.

The selection comes as part of the government’s wider Plan for Change, a strategy aimed at positioning the UK as a global leader in clean energy. The government has pledged over £2.5 billion for the SMR programme during the current Spending Review period, as part of a broader effort to boost energy security, lower consumer energy costs, and support domestic industry.

We are ending the no-nuclear status quo as part of our Plan for Change and are entering a golden age of nuclear with the biggest building programme in a generation.

^{Energy Secretary Ed Miliband}

Great British Energy – Nuclear, now operating under its new name (formerly Great British Nuclear), will work closely with Rolls-Royce SMR and plans to allocate a site and establish a development company later this year. Grid connection is targeted for the mid-2030s, coinciding with the completion of other major nuclear projects such as Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C.

By selecting a preferred bidder, we are taking a decisive step toward delivering clean, secure, and sovereign power. This is about more than energy—it’s about revitalising British industry, creating thousands of skilled jobs, and building a platform for long-term economic growth.

^{Simon Bowen, Chairman of Great British Energy – Nuclear}

The global SMR market is forecasted to grow significantly, with the International Energy Agency estimating a potential value of nearly £500 billion by 2050. The UK’s move positions it at the forefront of this emerging sector and signals renewed confidence in nuclear power as a cornerstone of a secure and low-carbon energy future.