Rolls-Royce SMR has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aker Solutions as a module partner as it seeks a site for manufacturing facilities. With the manufacturing partner now in place, the company is evaluating several sites for factory facilities.
Aker Solutions is a leading energy supply chain company that brings proven expertise from the oil and gas sector into nuclear for the first time, enabling the application of industrialised, modular delivery methods that have consistently been used to execute complex energy projects more efficiently.
By partnering with Aker, Rolls-Royce aims to leverage their expertise in complex modular construction, traditionally used in the oil and gas industry, to ensure components for its small modular reactors (SMRs) can be produced at scale and high quality. Around 80% of each Rolls-Royce SMR comprises conventional ‘non-nuclear’ components.
The Rolls-Royce SMR design is a three-loop pressurised water reactor with an output of 470 MWe derived from 1,358 MWt. The Rolls-Royce SMR concept is centred on modularisation of reliable and proven technology, allowing maximum use of the factory environment to combine standard components with advanced manufacturing techniques.
The factory-built modularisation approach is expected to drastically reduce the amount of on-site construction while its compact footprint and modular design means it can be located alongside energy intensive industrial processes. The plant is comprised of approximately 1,500 modules. About 90% of the build takes place in a factory environment, with only the final assembly occurring on-site under a weather-proof “canopy” to prevent delays.
Kjetel Digre, CEO of Aker Solutions, said: “Our proven capabilities in onshore facility development and modular construction position us well to contribute meaningfully to the SMR value chain. This MoU represents a key opportunity to transfer decades of delivery in complex energy programmes into a potential new market for Aker Solutions, leveraging our extensive experience within executing large and complex energy projects.”
The design is currently in Step 3 of the UK’s Generic Design Assessment (GDA), with a target for completion by the end of 2026. A final investment decision is expected in 2029, with the goal of bringing the first units online shortly thereafter. The company has contracts now in place for the UK and Czechia – and if successful, Sweden – Rolls-Royce SMR is delivering a fleet programme and assembling the strongest team to deliver.
After a multi-year competition managed by Great British Nuclear (now Great British Energy – Nuclear), Rolls-Royce was chosen as the primary technology partner and preferred bidder in June 2025. The Final Investment Decision (FID) is expected in 2029. Wylfa on the island of Anglesey, North Wales, was selected by the UK Government in November 2025 to host three Rolls-Royce SMRs with potential to host up to eight.
The company was also selected by Czech power utility ČEZ to deploy up to 3 GWe of new nuclear power in the Czech Republic and is one of only two SMR companies to progress to the final stage of Vattenfall’s technology selection process in Sweden for the possible construction of SMRs at the Ringhals NPP site.
With the Aker contract certainty now established and to enable successful delivery of the programme, Rolls-Royce SMR has officially started its UK factory site search, to create the manufacturing facilities that will enable a fleet programme to be delivered at scale.
Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce SMR CEO, said: “As the only SMR company in Europe with multiple projects under contract, we are now focused on successful fleet deployment. To enable this, we will establish a UK factory facility and bring together a world-leading supply chain to enable our modular, repeatable power plant solution.”
This site search builds on activity already undertaken with a number of potential site hosts across the country. Rolls-Royce SMR is seeking a site of around 20 acres and will take a decision on the preferred location later this year.
Rolls-Royce SMR is planning a “fleet” approach, requiring multiple factories. The most critical is the Heavy Pressure Vessel (HPV) factory, which will manufacture the reactor’s largest components. The final three contenders for this primary factory are: Sunderland – the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP); Teesside – the Teesworks freeport; and Deeside (Wales) – the Gateway commercial zone.
Other locations remain in the running for two additional factories focusing on civil modules and mechanical/electrical modules. These include Yorkshire – Ferrybridge (former coal station); Cumbria – Kingmoor Park, Carlisle; Lincolnshire – Grimsby & Stallingborough; and North Yorkshire – Catterick 53, Richmond.
