The UK-based Nuclear Industry Association has submitted an application for the justification of Rolls-Royce’s small modular reactor (SMR) design, marking the first time a UK reactor design has been presented for the regulatory process.

The justification decision is a prerequisite for any new nuclear technology in the UK, involving a high-level evaluation of the potential benefits and detriments of the proposed nuclear practice.

The NIA said the application makes the case that the benefits of clean, firm, flexible power from the reactor would far outweigh any potential risks, which are in any event rigorously controlled by robust safety features, including passive safety systems, built into the design, in line with the UK’s regulatory requirements.