US-based engineering and construction company McDermott and Netherlands nuclear development company ULC-Energy have signed a cooperation agreement to support deployment in the Netherlands of Rolls-Royce SMR projects. This includes the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs) with energy-intensive industrial processes.
The agreement is expected to leverage McDermott’s expertise in energy transition and industrial decarbonisation, including low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon capture and use (CCU), combined with ULC-Energy’s nuclear project development capabilities.
“This agreement builds on our existing relationship with ULC-Energy and reflects our shared commitment to advancing low-carbon energy solutions in the Netherlands,” said Rob Shaul, McDermott’s Senior Vice President of Low Carbon Solutions. “With a long-standing presence in the country and a major hub in The Hague supporting projects across Europe, we bring the engineering and execution expertise needed to support the development of Rolls-Royce SMR projects and their integration into industrial energy systems.”
Dirk Rabelink, CEO of ULC-Energy, noted: “At ULC-Energy, we see nuclear as most effective when integrated into energy systems. SMRs offer the flexibility to deliver electricity, heat or hydrogen where it creates the greatest value. Our previous collaboration with McDermott demonstrated the strength of this approach, and we look forward to further expanding our cooperation in other applications.”
The strategic partnership marks a major step forward for clean energy infrastructure in the Netherlands. By merging heavy engineering execution with nuclear project development, the agreement builds on a successful 2023 hydrogen cogeneration study to turn SMRs into multi-purpose industrial utilities.
The framework relies on the Rolls-Royce SMR design, a 470 MWe small pressurised water reactor built 90% in factory conditions to minimise on-site construction risk. The core focus is pairing SMR heat and power directly with energy-intensive sectors to manufacture low-carbon hydrogen, green ammonia, and SAF. SMR-generated electricity will power CCU networks to capture and re-purpose industrial emissions.
McDermott joins an established network of regional industrial partners compiled by ULC-Energy, including Siemens Energy, BAM, Mammoet, and Bureau Veritas, Urenco, Orano and Fugro, supporting the delivery of SMR-powered energy solutions in the Netherlands and Belgium.
McDermott and ULC-Energy previously collaborated in 2023 on a study assessing the industrial-scale production of hydrogen using a Rolls-Royce SMR power plant coupled with a Solid Oxide Electrolyser (SOEC). ULC-Energy was project coordinator and McDermott provided engineering design and cost input for the balance of plant and heat integration systems.
The deployment of Rolls-Royce SMR technology in the Netherlands is governed by a primary exclusive development agreement, which subsequently spawned a web of strategic engineering and regulatory partnerships. In August 2022, Rolls-Royce signed an exclusive deployment agreement designating ULC-Energy as its exclusive nuclear project developer in the Netherlands. This agreement established the 470 MWe factory-built pressurised water reactor as ULC-Energy’s choice technology for the region.
ULC-Energy and Rolls-Royce SMR have both signed secondary cooperation agreements to build a local supply chain, engineering framework, and regulatory path. In January a collaboration agreement was signed with France-based Bureau Veritas to oversee the industrial-scale safety, certification, and risk compliance of the reactors.
In 2025, structural agreements were signed to support turbine/generator supply chains and nuclear fuel cycle logistics Rolls-Royce SMR signed a global partnership agreement selecting Siemens Energy as its conventional island technology partner and the exclusive supplier of steam turbines, generators, and auxiliary systems for the SMR fleet. ULC-Energy signed a cooperation agreement France’s Orano establishing logistics frameworks for handling, transport, and temporary storage of used fuel tailored to the Dutch SMR infrastructure.
In November 2023 a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Rolls-Royce SMR and BAM Infra to explore infrastructure, civil engineering, and construction logistics within the Dutch landscape.
These private and corporate agreements run parallel to the Dutch government’s broader climate policy. The coalition government in December 2021 earmarked €5bn ($5.75bn) in cumulative nuclear funding to 2030 to build new standard reactors and establish the regulatory framework for SMR deployment. This initial €5bn baseline has since been expanded by subsequent governments. The 2024 and 2026 Outline Coalition Agreements added funding from the Climate Fund. This increased the target pool to €9.5bn to 2035 to expand the Netherlands plans for two large-scale reactors to a minimum of four plants, including SMRs.
