Small Modular Reactors: Supply Chains
(asked on 17th June 2025) - View Source
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential role of (a) innovative Small Modular Reactors and (b) their associated UK-based (i) manufacturing and (ii) construction supply chains in supporting the Government’s (A) energy security and (B) net zero targets by 2050.
Answered by
Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) has selected Rolls-Royce SMR as its preferred bidder to partner with to build the UK’s first small modular reactors (SMRs), subject to final government approvals and contract signature.
It is expected that an SMR project could power the equivalent of up to 3 million of today’s homes and support up to 3,000 jobs at peak construction.
Further details will follow in due course, but the government's long-term ambition is to bring forward one of Europe's first SMR fleets, with GBE-N's ambition being to deliver over 70% UK content across the fleet which could benefit communities right across the country.