A new strategic agreement between Rolls-Royce SMR and specialist firm Curtiss-Wright is driving the evolution of the UK nuclear sector. The pact calls for the supply of diverse and non-programmable protection systems for its innovative small modular reactor (SMR) model, a key technology for future low-carbon power generation in the UK.
The supply chain and industrialization of SMR
With this agreement, Curtiss-Wright, with decades of experience in nuclear safety, will take on design, qualification and testing tasks to support the global deployment of Rolls-Royce’s SMR plants. Engineering and manufacturing will be carried out from its facility in Wimborne, Dorset, generating more than 200 skilled jobs in the region.
In addition to strengthening the national supply chain, this partnership energizes the UK nuclear industrial ecosystem by fostering the transfer of technological capabilities and the development of specialized talent. Ruth Todd, operations director at Rolls-Royce SMR, noted that the collaboration minimizes technical risks by integrating a supplier with a proven track record in high-demand environments.
The SMR program program has been selected by CEZ to deploy up to 3 GW of capacity in the Czech Republic and was recently designated as a preferred supplier by Great British Energy – Nuclear. At the regulatory level, the technology is progressing through the final stage of review by independent bodies in the UK, outperforming other similar solutions in Europe.
Each SMR unit will be manufactured in the factory and transported to the final site, reducing costs and construction times. These compact plants will be able to supply carbon-free power to one million homes for more than six decades, cementing the UK as a leader in modular nuclear solutions.
Source and photo: Rolls-Royce
