Czech utility ČEZ and the UK-based Rolls-Royce SMR have signed an Early Works Agreement (EWA) in order to start preparations for construction of the first small modular reactor (SMR) in the Czech Republic. This comes after ČEZ chose Rolls-Royce SMR technology as a strategic partner and supplier for SMRs with a total capacity of 3 GWe. The EWA builds on the recent signing by the UK and the Czech Republic of a five-year memorandum of understanding to accelerate co-operation on SMRs. Earlier this year, ČEZ acquired a 20% stake in Rolls-Royce SMR in the form of a capital input.
Tomáš Pleskač, a member of the Board and Director of the New Energy Division at ČEZ, said: “We will closely cooperate with Rolls-Royce SMR on preparing the construction of the first small modular reactor in the Czech Republic, which is expected to be built in the Temelín locality in the mid-2030s. Modular reactors represent a significant opportunity for the Czech economy and are an essential part of the ongoing energy transformation. The cooperation with Rolls-Royce SMR, which we established this year, offers a unique opportunity for growth and prosperity in the field of nuclear energy, also thanks to our participation in the technology development.”
Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce SMR CEO, said: “This agreement is an important step forward in our partnership with ČEZ, demonstrating our shared ambition to move at pace to deliver reliable, clean nuclear power in the Czech Republic. We are proud to be working alongside ČEZ to deliver a programme that will bring significant industrial and economic benefits to both our nations, while helping to meet critical energy security and decarbonisation goals.”
Under the agreement, a joint team will begin site-specific activities, initially focused on the Temelín NPP site in the South Bohemian Region. Additional deployment opportunities are also being explored at Tušimice in the Ústí nad Labem Region. ČEZ said new nuclear sources are necessary to preserve the energy security and self-sufficiency of the Czech Republic. Specifically, in Tušimice it will also be an important source of heat for the surrounding towns and villages. The early works will include regulatory approvals and licensing, environmental assessments, and preparatory site work at Temelín. These activities will also support detailed planning and regulatory engagement to enable timely deployment.
The Rolls-Royce SMR design is a three loop PWR 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 Czech Republic currently gets about one-third of its electricity from four VVER-440 units at Dukovany NPP, which began operating between 1985 and 1987, and the two VVER-1000 units at Temelín NPP, which began operation in 2000 and 2002.
