Ultra compact nuclear fission reactor12/27/2023 ![]() In the Rolls-Royce small modular reactor, more than 80% of all components and systems will be made and tested in offsite factories. They all claim to be designed on principles of reducing complexity and replicating design to enable consistent manufacturing and construction process. Project times are typically quoted in ranges from 4 to 7 years. Precise costs vary but are predominately driven by the risks to investment and the cost of finance for a project.Īll small modular reactors seek to deploy rapidly and consistently in a fleet approach where continuous improvement delivers accelerated learning. Small modular reactors are all typically projected to cost less than £2 billion. Traditional £20 billion nuclear projects are vulnerable to all of them, but small nuclear reactors can address size, complexity, uniqueness and frequency of build. Size, complexity, uniqueness (physical and organisational) and unique builds separated over many years are common issues in mega-projects. Many of the reasons for this are captured in the ‘ Market framework for financing small nuclear’ independent report published by Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. There is much research and data that shows mega-projects (projects over around £2 billion) are nearly always over budget and late. This to some degree mischaracterises and unfairly labels nuclear new build as a particular case.įor much of their early life, traditional nuclear generation projects are large, complex, challenging construction projects, typically classified as mega-projects. You often hear that ‘all nuclear is late and expensive’. This near doubling of need, the minimisation of fossil fuels and legal commitments to net zero have shaped government’s challenging ambition to have up to 24GW of nuclear generating capacity. ![]() ![]() The Climate Change Committee has predicted future UK demand for energy available to around 600 terrawatt hours (TWh) per year in 2050, compared to around 300 TWh in 2018. A series of government announcements have progressed understanding and debate, including the Energy White Paper, the 10 point plan for a green industrial revolution, the British energy security strategy and the recent net zero review. The importance of energy security and net zero needs no amplification. This unique approach to nuclear power is intended to deliver scalable, repeatable and predictable assembly, which could ultimately mean you can effectively buy a low-carbon nuclear power station and be comfortable it will arrive on time. The project is developing the design of a nuclear power station that can be predominantly manufactured in a factory and assembled on site. Our main objective, working with our supplier Rolls-Royce SMR, is to deliver the design of a small modular power station and the assessment of that design by UK regulators. ![]() I am now privileged to lead the Innovate UK team that manages the low-cost nuclear challenge on behalf of the government. ![]() Guided by my parents, I entered the nuclear industry, believing in the promise of a high-technology industry where engineering, computers and science mattered more than sweat and shovels. The coal industry is now gone, as is my father, taken early because of damage digging fuel to power a nation. Raised in South Yorkshire the proud son of a coal miner I joked about ‘panda rings’ around my father’s eyes bearing witness to the physicality and harshness of toiling miles underground. ![]()
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