Rolls-Royce SMR chosen to deliver UK’s first small modular reactors
- Babak Baghaei
- Jun 11
- 2 min read
The UK government has announced that Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected to build the country’s first fleet of small modular reactors (SMRs), a major milestone in the UK’s plan to strengthen domestic energy security and accelerate progress toward net-zero.
The decision marks one of the most significant developments in the UK nuclear sector in decades, with SMRs expected to play a central role in delivering reliable, low-carbon baseload power for the nation.
What are SMRs?
Small Modular Reactors are a new generation of nuclear technology designed to be:
smaller and factory-built, allowing faster, more standardised deployment
safer by design, incorporating passive safety features
lower-cost, thanks to modular manufacturing and reduced on-site construction
highly flexible, enabling integration with hydrogen production, desalination, industrial heat supply, and district heating
Unlike traditional large nuclear stations, SMRs can be deployed in smaller footprints, closer to areas of demand, and at a speed that allows them to respond more effectively to shifting energy needs.
Why this matters for the UK
The UK faces rising electricity demand from:
electrified transport
industry decarbonisation
data centre expansion
heating transition
AI-driven computing loads
SMRs offer a pathway to meet this growing demand with a stable, clean and locally generated energy supply.
According to the government announcement:
the first units are expected to contribute significantly to the UK's future energy mix
SMRs will help shield consumers from price volatility in global gas markets
thousands of highly skilled jobs will be created across engineering, manufacturing and supply chains
SMRs also align with broader strategic goals — reducing reliance on fossil fuels, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and building long-term resilience into the energy system.
Why Rolls-Royce’s design was selected
The Rolls-Royce SMR design has been chosen based on:
technological maturity
flexibility of deployment
readiness for the next stages of approval
its scalable and modular manufacturing approach
The design has already passed through key stages of the UK’s rigorous Generic Design Assessment process, and is now set to move toward siting and construction phases.
A wider trend in global energy
The UK is not alone. Countries including the US, Canada, France and Poland are all advancing SMR programmes as part of national energy strategies. SMRs are increasingly seen as a cornerstone of:
low-carbon electricity generation
industrial decarbonisation
energy-security planning
hydrogen and synthetic-fuel production
Their ability to operate alongside renewables, providing reliable power when wind or solar is low, makes them uniquely positioned to support the global clean-energy transition.
Why this matters for the engineering and simulation community
SMRs rely on advanced design, rigorous thermal-hydraulic analysis, and high-fidelity modelling to ensure safety, efficiency and scalability.
This is an area where companies like Mansim, specialising in CFD, heat transfer, and multiphysics simulation, continue to follow developments closely. As SMRs move from concept to deployment, sophisticated modelling will play an increasing role in validating designs, improving performance and supporting regulatory approval.
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