Two US-based small modular reactor developers are submitting entry applications for the UK nuclear regulator’s generic design assessment (GDA) process as the race hots up to deploy plants in Britain.

Holtec Britain, the UK-based branch of US SMR developer Holtec, said it is poised to begin the GDA process for it SMR-160 small modular reactor in early 2023, enabling start of construction of the first UK unit as early as 2028.

The company said it intends to deploy 32 SMR-160s – representing a total capacity of 5,100 MW – in serial production by 2050 to bring “reliable and affordable electricity and heat to UK households, businesses, and industrial users”.

North Carolina-based GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) announced it has already submitted a GDA entry application for the BWRX-300 SMR to the UK government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.