Despite months of delays, ministers have said a deal for a mini-nuclear reactor for Rolls-Royce will not be revealed until 2024. Credit: Rolls-Royce
The deal for a mini-nuclear reactor for Rolls-Royce is still pending, at least six months later, as the engineering giant has warned ministers that the UK risks falling behind in the global race for breakthrough technology.
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The company is among several enterprises that are expected to take part in the government's small modular reactor (SMR) design competition, which will select projects for co-financing.
But despite several months of delays, the ministers said the final result would not be known until 2024.
Alan Woods, director of strategy and business development for Rolls-Royce SMR, warned that the energy crisis following the war in Ukraine prompted several countries to urgently start creating SMR.
Speaking at the Northern Nuclear Conference in Carlisle, he said: «The challenge we're facing is that while we were probably ahead, what we're seeing now, definitely across Europe, is not just pure zero. It's about energy security.
“And this is leading to a real movement towards energy independence and new nuclear energy. This means that a lot of the processes that are done internationally are shrinking, they are moving forward and this challenges us because we cannot continue to have credibility in these processes until we still have a project that we could specify. to the UK.
«That's really one of our critical issues. That's why we're convincing the government of the importance of pace. They're realizing it…and now they're starting the process. Keep up the good work.»
Tom Samson of Rolls-Royce shows Boris Johnson a model of a nuclear power plant at 10 Downing Street. Photo: Simon Dawson. /No10 Downing Street
Ministers prepare for the official launch of Great British Nuclear (GBN), the state-backed organization tasked with finding SMR sites and preparing them for development, on 13 July.
GBN will oversee the design competition. Andrew Bowie, nuclear energy secretary, told The Telegraph that GBN is expected to make the first announcements of the competition in October and then release its final decision «early next year».
The government has previously proposed projects to be chosen in the fall.
Some in the nuclear industry are increasingly concerned that next year's general election could further delay decisions on Britain's nuclear programme.
Many sites across the UK have been proposed as potential sites for SMRs, including Sellafield in Cumbria, site of the UK's first civilian nuclear program and where Solway Community Power Company hopes to build one of the first Rolls-Royce plants.< /p>
John Stevenson, Conservative MP for Carlisle and organizer of Friday's conference, said: «If you're going to have a nuclear renaissance, it has to start in places where nuclear power is already accepted.
«And it is clear that Cumbria and Wales are two places that are obvious starting points. These communities are ready and willing.”
Ministers have made nuclear power a key element of their plans to achieve zero emissions and ensure the country's energy independence, aiming to get up to 25% of electricity from nuclear power by 2050.
However, other countries are also moving forward with competing developments and projects, including Canada, where General Electric has already signed an agreement to build SMRs by the end of 2028.
Andrew Bowie, Secretary of Nuclear Energy, said: «I would dispute the argument that we are behind other countries.»
«We launched Great British Nuclear, they started the selection process down, we will have initial announcements to make in October, after which a final decision will be made early next year.
«We're getting there — moving further and faster than any comparable country — and it's very exciting.
» We're generating interest from all over the world. Of course, Rolls-Royce is part of this. But it is not for me to predetermine the outcome of the contest.”
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