The agreement, signed in Stockholm, enables the two companies to evaluate Studsvik’s capabilities and facilities and further explore ways they can support the future deployment of Rolls-Royce SMR’s ‘factory-built’ nuclear power plant. The MoU covers several technical areas, including fuel qualification and testing, plant life management, hot cell technology, core design and operational modelling, and regulatory licensing support.
“This agreement expands our relationship with Studsvik and strengthens our European supply chain, bringing together world-class expertise to support the rollout of Rolls-Royce SMR technology,” said Rolls-Royce SMR CEO Chris Cholerton. “Studsvik’s long-standing capabilities in nuclear services make them an ideal partner as we accelerate towards deploying our SMRs across global markets.”
Studsvik President and CEO Karl Thedéen added: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with Rolls-Royce SMR at a time when SMR technology is making strides in the nuclear industry. Governments and customers around the world have taken decisions on important investments in nuclear power, creating long-term opportunities. We are convinced that working closer together, both organisations will benefit from the acceleration of Rolls-Royce SMR business activities in the Nordics, UK and Europe, supporting stable, clean, and reliable energy.”
Earlier this month, Swedish nuclear technical services provider Studsvik announced its acquisition of Swedish SMR project development company Kärnfull Next, expanding its role from supporting the world’s existing nuclear fleet to also developing new nuclear projects.
The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurised water reactor. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years. Ninety percent of the SMR – measuring about 16 metres by 4 metres – will be built in factory conditions, limiting activity on-site primarily to assembly of pre-fabricated, pre-tested, modules which significantly reduces project risk and has the potential to drastically shorten build schedules.
In June last year, Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as the UK government’s preferred technology for the country’s first SMR project. A final investment decision is expected to be taken in 2029. In November, the government announced that Wylfa on the island of Anglesey, North Wales, will host three Rolls-Royce small modular reactors. It said the site – where a Magnox plant is being decommissioned – could potentially host up to eight SMRs.
Rolls-Royce SMR has also been selected by Czech Republic nuclear operator ČEZ to build up to 3 GW of new capacity.
The Swedish government received an application in December to support proposals for either five GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors or three Rolls-Royce SMRs to provide about 1,500 MW capacity at Ringhals on the Värö Peninsula. The application came from Videberg Kraft AB, a project company owned by Vattenfall AB and backed by a series of industrial firms via the Industrikraft i Sverige AB consortium.
