Third tender submitted in UK SMR selection process

Wednesday, 16 April 2025

There were initially six companies shortlisted by Great British Nuclear (GBN), the arms-length body set up to oversee the UK’s plans for new nuclear, with the four shortlisted companies – Westinghouse being the other – entering negotiations last September. In February, the four SMR vendors were issued with an Invitation to Submit Final Tenders.

The aim is for GBN to select up to three of the technologies, with the intention of supporting the deployment of multiple units of a company’s SMRs at a site. GBN currently owns land for potential new nuclear at Wylfa in Anglesey in North Wales, and at Oldbury in Gloucestershire in southwest England, but other sites could also be chosen.

Holtec has been developing its SMR unit since 2011. The SMR-300 is a pressurised water reactor producing around 300 MW of electrical power or 1050 MW of thermal power for process applications, and the company says it has undergone several design evolutions, the most recent of which is the incorporation of forced flow capability overlayed on gravity-driven flow in the plant’s primary system.

The company announced plans in 2023 to build the first two SMR-300 reactors at the existing Palisades nuclear power plant site in Michigan, USA. It is aiming to file a construction permit application for the reactors in 2026 with operation of the first SMR-300 plant targeted for mid-2030, subject to regulatory reviews and oversight.

_{How a twin-unit SMR-300 plant could look at Palisades (Image: Holtec)}

“The SMR-300, based on proven pressurised water reactor technology, will support the UK’s long-term industrial strategy and clean energy ambitions,” said Holtec Britain.

It added: “The UK is also set to benefit from the experience gained through the SMR-300 deployment at Palisades, near Covert, Michigan. As a second-of-a-kind deployment – alongside India and Ukraine – the UK is well positioned to join a global coalition of countries adopting the SMR-300, enabling shared supply chains and driving long-term economic growth.”

Holtec has previously proposed deploying around 5 GWe of SMRs in serial production in the UK by 2050.

In September last year, USA-based Holtec International selected South Yorkshire in England as the preferred site for its proposed UK SMR factory to serve the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Holtec said that at least 70% of materials, components and services will be sourced from the UK, with significant supply chain opportunities, particularly in and around South Yorkshire.

“The UK has the opportunity to lead the world in next-generation clean energy,” said Gareth Thomas, Director of Holtec Britain. “Holtec Britain is ready – with proven technology and established international partners, including Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co Ltd and Mitsubishi Electric, with a clear commitment to supporting economic growth.”

In February, GBN said it remains on track to select the chosen technology before the summer. A final investment decision is expected to be taken in 2029.

In an interview early last year for the World Nuclear News podcast, GBN Chairman Simon Bowen said the intention was to place contracts with one, two or three technology providers – this would be for co-funding the technology all the way through to completion of the design, regulatory, environmental and site-specific permissions process, and the potential to place a contract for the supply of equipment. Each selected technology would have an allocated site with the potential to host multiple SMRs.