Rolls-Royce has moved forward in their bid to develop new Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) across the UK by highlighting six locations where they may look to develop a new factory which builds nuclear reactors.

The UK Government is looking to build 16 SMRs in the next 25 years – as the Government looks to enhance their energy supply via nuclear to hit their 2050 net zero target.

Those highlighted are:

  • Richmond – North Yorkshire
  • Deeside – Wales
  • Ferrybridge – West Yorkshire
  • Stallingborough – Lincolnshire
  • Sunderland – North East
  • Carlisle – North West

They are initially looking at one site before then adding an additional two in later years.

Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive Tom Samson said it had had a “fantastic” response to calls for suggestions of where the site could be, which showed the “ambition and appetite of the UK” for the reactors which would “provide affordable, low-carbon electricity for generations to come”.He added the final location would get “significant investment” and “long-term high-skilled jobs”.